Athletics Nation

Great game

It gives me a whole lot of hope for this season!

GO A'S!!

oaklandSMASH - March 26, 2008 reply

BBG types almost as fast as Harden throws!

outstanding recap!

my prediction for the A's taking the AL West...

is looking better and better every day.

Your recap came up

almost as fast as Ricky's cleared out!
Great game, great game threads. Thanks all.

or almost as fast as...Rickey!

I loved Rickey so much.

He was the ultimate kick.

here you go

BigTuna - March 26, 2008 reply

ESPN

Every Sox Players Nightmare: Oakland Athletics

"The Underground Railroad to Candyland gives greetings from Japan"

BigTuna - March 26, 2008 reply

I just realized they also had a pic of Godzilla in an A's cap

brilliant

oaklandSMASH - March 26, 2008 reply

lol I have no idea what "The Underground Railroad to Candyland gives greetings from Japan" means, but I like it!

drmmerchk - March 26, 2008 reply

Just Googled

It's a band from San Pedro who are touring in Japan right now.

This makes me happy

plus the fact that I'm going to 2 games this weekend. Ahhhh baseball, I've missed you.

Excellent, bbg...

So the A's win wasn't as completely debilitating and spirit-crushing for the Red Sox as I'd hoped it would be, but I'm happy. Going to sleep now and look forward to seeing the Sox get humiliated in person twice next week.

I'm glad this is the last grave-shift game

I'm tired of trying to force myself to sleep when I know that my A's are on.

doctorK - March 26, 2008 reply

If Fremont doesn't work out...

the A's should move to Japan. We can have 3 a.m. threads... all the time. Don't have to worry about getting off work early to get to the ballpark. Don't have to worry about all that pesky traffic getting to Fremont. Nirvana!

it'd be sure to have immediate access to public transit!

a bullet train to the new stadium?

How can AN's public transit proponents possibly argue against the move to Japan now?

honestly, I think a move to Japan might make more sense

From Fremont...

...to Flemont?

Ozzz - March 26, 2008 reply

Great game

It's a great way for me to start the day!!!!! I almost didn't get up but I could hear what Harden was doing, and I just couldn't resist it. It was just fantastic. Never count us out!!! A team of rookies just took out the Red Sux. I am glad to be back. So Proud to be a fan! And we need to figure out that damn sign!!!!

athleticsgirl24 - March 26, 2008 reply

Excellent recap

That was quick, where can I find you when I have a paper due?

rightbackin - March 26, 2008 reply

Inspiring performance!

I'm loving the fact that we have addressed our former weakness against LHP with Brown, Sweeney and even Suzuki.

Another chapter to the Harden saga begins....

ChadGod - March 26, 2008 reply

Yeah, as we were just saying yesterday:

Thank God for Emil Brown!

I love...

email.

You know

Hawk Harrelson is known for an "I love e-mail" quote...

thejd44 - March 26, 2008 reply

Without him

We'd be 1 and 1.

clever

senor_k - March 26, 2008 reply

lol

Without him

We might be 0 and 2

ChadGod - March 26, 2008 reply

Damn

I figured it'd be Paul Thomas who would call me on it.

I drank the Emil Brown Koolaid right when the A's signed him

ChadGod - March 26, 2008 reply

I'm not too worried about Buck

Looks like the kind of 0 for 10 skid that no one much notices unless it's the first 10 ABs. Seems like the count is 0 and 2 when you step up to the plate and that opposing pitcher's best pitch all day is the next one.

Nice to be 1-1 against the best in the league with Buck and Barton hitless. Foulke was outstanding, the starting pitching is already proving to be solid, and the team is trying to make things happen - and Ellis' first to third romp was a tad better than Brown's effort yesterday!

Foulke faced the scariest

part of the Sox lineup two days in a row and came away unscatched. Plus, he perplexed Manny when Manny was hot.

I'm just holding my breath on the Harden health front, as I will pretty much all season long.

Tyler Bleszinski - March 26, 2008 reply

not to continue to ride the nico train, but

I share the same thoughts on this one. It's more noticeable because it's the first 10.

Does bring to mind Dave Henderson after he went 0-for-6 to start the '89 Series: "As players, we know we're going to make outs. You call it a slump. I call it (Hendu chuckle) 0-for-6."

Go ahead and ride the Nico train -

you won't be the first man, woman, or goat to do so.

ALL ABOARD!

how much is the fare?

(not the fair)

FormerHuntsvilleStar - March 26, 2008 reply

$5 for lunch, $5 for dinner

$5 for hay for the goat.

But it's all overcooked.

Yes, 15 bucks

No, I don't mean dollars.

Something about this exchange

just doesn't sound right...

we're all a little punchy

that's all

My God, IM4Oakgal, you're right -

I totally forgot about the other goat.

how dare you?

that goat gave you the best minutes of its life

Don?

It's MINUTE of the goat's life. Nico is a minute man.

Now wait a SECOND

micro-second?

Was it good for you too?

You know, the sex we had 187 times while I typed this sentence.

187? Now Teacher...

Micro means one-millionth.

I can give you multiple orgasms,

not the Big Bang for crying out loud (which you would be).

Sorry...

I talked to your goat and he says YOU'RE not a BIG bang..so regrettably it's a no go.

?

the lexington and concord kind or the san yasidro kind?

Future Ed - March 26, 2008 reply

Oh definitely san yasidro goat all the way

And I do mean all the way.

poor thing

what did that goat ever do to you, for crying out loud?

Look what it did to the cubs!

Curse of the Goat!

Do you really have to ask?

The answer is going to contain TMI. I guarantee it.

Fine, I'll keep it short -

Apparently I always do (see above). :-(

Good stuff tonight AN.

I think I may actually head back to sleep now. I'll need my voice again next week at the ACTUAL home opener!

Boonee - March 26, 2008 reply

Is that the one where the fans are rooting for us,

and the broadcasters are competent and neutral?

Gary thorne

Did the worst job of announcing a game i have ever heard...totally clueless...I think he thinks Canseco is the plays first for the yankees...To not know the name of our top prospect( a starter!)

That was the weirded thing EVER

He REALLY thinks Jose Canseco plays first base for the Yankees. When he was corrected, he said, "Right, Giambi" as if that was another name for Canseco. WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD.

baseballgirl - March 26, 2008 reply

He said

"that's going to be an awkward throw from third to first."

In fairness, from third base to first plate

is, like, a really really long way. Even if you have Canseco at first plate waiting to stretch and pull the throw in. Or Dale Barton even.

is that Cindi?

NO!!!

I know perfectly well that it's third plate and first base. Nice try, but I'm not a moron. Tammi, on the other hand...Well, I'm not gonna say it. But she's not the sharpest bulb in the shed - there, I said it.

-Cindi

P.S. Yay hotties for their first win of the 2008 tournament!!!!!!!!!!

This recap was written in a rediculously....

fast manner. Impressive!!

0akFoSho - March 26, 2008 reply

Mid-season form!

The Dogfather - March 26, 2008 reply

Now we know where BBG is during her game threads

Our team

can win games against the WS champions...these kids aren't bad. Please Lord, let Rich stay healthy ALL season.

Athletics fan and runner - March 26, 2008 reply

We have the best record in baseball

Well, we are tied with some other team from out east for it, at least.

Dearest Rich,

Thank you.

Here's to many more,

Jennifer

Jennifer - March 26, 2008 reply

"Love, Your Fer-Fer"

Well that was fun! I'm glad I picked this game to stay up for, rather than the first game. Despite my internet cutting out every 10 minutes or so, I managed to (mostly) keep up with the game threads. Can't wait for the next game! WOO HOO!! Go A's!! Now I'm off to get some sleep!

drmmerchk - March 26, 2008 reply

Slusser's notes

This makes me sad:

Reliever Lenny DiNardo bought a guitar that has a back made of sea-turtle shell. [...]

DiNardo said he's having buyer's remorse about the guitar, because sea turtles are endangered. A serious guitarist and guitar collector, he liked the unusual sound the instrument produces, and because the guitar had been manufactured 20 years ago, he figured, well, the turtle's demise had come some time ago.

The next day, though, he was still feeling bad about it. He awoke wondering if he should have purchased it.

"I don't condone it," he said. "Turtles are like my favorite animal, too."

In other news, Dallas got a tattoo and HRH got a sword.

Oh, and this blows

Though the A's are the home team for this series (and two games come off their schedule at the Coliseum as a result), the Red Sox wound up with the much more spacious and luxurious home clubhouse and dugout for the two games. One official said that a coin flip determined the clubhouse assignments, but no one in the A's traveling party was surprised that Oakland got the cramped visitors' digs.

There was nothing about Dice-K in that paragraph,

so I'm not interested.

That's just wrong !

This was hilarious

Braden had considered getting a samurai or a dragon tattoo because he was worried that, unfamiliar with Japanese characters, he might wind up getting "moron" or something else unflattering. He won't be the only Oakland player with Japanese-character tattoos. Kurt Suzuki has his last name inscribed on his left arm, Emil Brown has his Japanese zodiac sign (a tiger) on his right forearm along with "heaven's warrior" in characters on his neck, and Travis Buck has characters that say "youngest Buck brother." A's massage therapist Yoshi Nishio confirmed they read what Buck hoped they did, telling him one day, "That says something about a younger brother and a deer."

I'm not really sure that is what Buck hoped they said.

Is Buck's tattoo on his ass?

And if so, why is his massage therapist so familiar with it?

Turtle-shell back, ivory frets, strings spun from rhino-horn fibers...

THINGS MY FATHER BEAT ME WITH!

This is $25,000 Pyramid, right?

That's going to make me laugh all day.

Unless you're serious, in which case I'll only laugh for the next few hours.

I'm not serious -

My dad never used ivory frets, but only because he couldn't get our pet elephant to sit still long enough to yank the tusks off.

"yanking the tusks off the pet elephant"

That goes on the list.

List? What list?

I told you this stuff in the strictest confidence!

I'm gonna have that done pyramid song

stuck in my head now

not the final round, the main song

wow i need sleep

i meant DAMN pyramid song

Yahoo!

ak_A - March 26, 2008 reply

Thanks for recap, BBG

I look forward to reading the threads..

Baseball redemption can be sweet...and those things I said about Foulke in Phoenix?...must've been the heat.

And I must give big kudos to AN up and with the games in realtime.

AN fans are the best!

Go A's

LongTimeFan - March 26, 2008 reply

Noted

in Leah Garchik:

At 10 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning, Barry Bonds had a hearty breakfast at Lefty O'Doul's, all by himself.

Where was his ego, in the bathroom?

Under indictment.

alox - March 26, 2008 reply

so...

As this is my first go-around in-season on AN, are there always this many fanposts (diaries)?

Now I know what those people were talking about when they said that the off-season was the time to fill in "space".

Not that I am complaining (not even a little), I just had no idea.

Always plenty of diaries during the reg season

But in the past they had to have a certain amount of characters...and there was a two diary per day limit. It seemed to work well but it doesn't seem as if they plan to use those old guidelines anymore.

The game threads can get a little rowdy.

It's usually pretty lively. Just wait till the team hits the skids for a while. All of AN bares their fangs and are prone to gnashing each other. It's really cool.

alox - March 26, 2008 reply

ooh, I look forward to that

I admit it's been pretty tame around here since AN 3.0 kicked off.

FIRE 67MARQUEZ NOW!!!!!!

Just practicing.

doctorK - March 26, 2008 reply

mid-season form

It's sometimes akin to one of my favorite shows...

"Jane, you ignorant...."

alox - March 26, 2008 reply

I'll say it again

These two lineups + ph for CF, which surprised many, are exactly what we should be using with this roster. Platoons are our friend. Also, Murphy should be played liberally, 1-2 times/week for Crosby and once a week for Hannahan against LHPs.

It is bad pr (or something) to sit M. Sweeney and Cust respectively for Brown, but that is the best call. I am pleased.

I agree about CF, but think one should PH for the other

It was a waste of Cust to bat him in the 6th inning, with a runner at second and two out - I think a lefty-hitting CFer (take your pick) should have hit for Denorfia there, saving Cust for a spot where he might really be needed.

I didn't really like that in today's game

but more because runner on second and two outs is "single or better" time to drive in the run, and Cust has a low single or better rate. When PHing Cust I think it's much better to look at the inning situation (bases empty or runner on first is a great time to have him up) than how late in the game it is. I don't like PHing one CF for the other because they are the two (three with Fiorentino) weakest hitters in the lineup outside of Crosby.

R* H*** is fucking awesome

Are you trying to deify HRDN?

Immortality is a characteristic of Y*HW*H. If only that were true of H*RD*N.

eastcoasta'sfan - March 26, 2008 reply

Good ancient Hebrew knowledge! Biblical Scholar in Da House!

thanks, but it's more linguistics knowledge on this one

though i'll admit to some familiarity with biblical studies as well. I can't claim to have faith in H*RD*N yet, though. And, hey, baseball is some kind of a religious experience.

eastcoasta'sfan - March 26, 2008 reply

Rack Hnrhan?

you sure it isn't

Rock Hudson?

Rank Hubris?

Hello, sun.

This is probably the last sunrise I'll see for a good long while.

Slusser

Talking on ESPN2

Didn't the oh-so-jockular ESPN crew say they were going to have Billy on the broadcast?

Or did I dream it.

Not, you know, that I dream about Billy all that often.

The Dogfather - March 26, 2008 reply

They did.

I was wondering about that too.

I guess he shunned them to actually watch the game, unlike Selig yesterday.

Gromit1025 - March 26, 2008 reply

yep

I heard it too, and was waiting for it. I eventually figured I must have accidentally fast-forwarded past it or something.

rageon - March 26, 2008 reply

Billy was walking down the aisles to the booth

but he saw a loose soccer ball and chased after it.

After the get down on your Boston knee party ?

they hosted during game 1? I am sure that Billy heard the broadcast later, then cancelled.

There was a coin flip, and Billy

was relegated to the smaller broadcast booth.

speaking of mid-season form

dude, maybe we should have 3am games more often

They had to bump him

so we could get a good inning and a half of Orestres Destrade an d see his pose like 5 times.

Thank god I didnt miss that.

From the Boston Globe

link

Terry Francona stood on the field after today's game, at a microphone, and thanked the crowd for supporting the Red Sox. Then Oakland manager Bob Geren did the same.

Geren thanked the crowd for supporting the Red Sox?
But this is nice:

"I want to give Rich credit,'' Ramirez said. "He pitched a great game. He has a nasty splitter. His slider was working. He was 95 (miles an hour). He's got it all.''

Also from the Globe

nice picture:

Shouldn't that be

"Please give me you're autograph"?

That was for Poppy.

I appreciate that your thinking of me.

Its fine; were good.

Slusser's game store

The hits keep on coming:

For those keeping track of the various indignities heaped on the A's this week during this massively pro-Boston event, the Oakland flag in center field fell from the stadium ceiling during the game and had to be picked up and carried away.

http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1/xxxxx/loadstattracker?classic=1

have to reiterate BBG's assessment of Harden

from a purely fuzzy "stuff" perspective, Rich looked terrific. There was lots of movement, the Sox hitters never looked comfortable, their timing was WAY off on the off-speed stuff, the NESN gun had him at 94-95 consistently, he could climb the ladder with his fastball and nobody could touch it...
boy it really is fun to watch him. I got to see his first win down in Anaheim (which is huge considering ive been relegated to the east coast and I rarely get to see my team in person), and im still (obviously) smitten.
keep it up you crazy canadian.

oakinboston - March 26, 2008 reply

OT: Yahoo Fantasy Players - Help needed

Okay, so I hate the "new" (now like 3 years old) StatTracker. I always use the "Classic" version, which is full screen, readable, cleaner, and better in almost every way.

But I haven't been able to get it to load this season. I've heard from other managers that it's working for them. It hangs on "Loading player data" for me. ANyone here tried it yet? If it's working for you, what browser and Java version are you using? (I'm on Firefox 2.13 and Java 6 Update 5).

If you didn't know the Classic StatTracker was still available, here's the URL:

Replace "xxxxx" with your league ID number. If you're in a "PLUS" league, replace "b1" with "b2".

Thanks for your help!

the first of many...woot!

can't wait for Tuesday!

OaklandSi - March 26, 2008 reply

hell, we didn't even gdp

thats makes ME happy

DyeLongJustice - March 26, 2008 reply

he ain't "Norfie"

He is ... THE RALLY PIMPERNEL!

nice photo

was it the scarlet pimpernel?

btw, is that a typo in your sig? Or just more monkeyball brilliance that goes over my head?

it's a comment from a youtube video of a kreepy robot

I just thought it would be

humanity's....unless you meant to pluralize it....

Manny being Manny

"I want to give Rich credit,'' Ramirez said. "He pitched a great game. He has a nasty splitter. His slider was working. He was 95 (miles an hour). He's got it all.''

arch - March 26, 2008 reply

back atcha

Huston Street referred to Manny yesterday as the best righthanded hitter in the AL

OaklandSi - March 26, 2008 reply

Yeah, I'd much rather face A-Rod.

I'd rather face Lowell

Playoffs start in October

For the regular season, I'd rank the AL's best (middle of the order) hitters as ARod, Manny, Ordonez, Ortiz. Would be nice to see the A's get someone in contention for that list . . .

eastcoasta'sfan - March 26, 2008 reply

Cust will be better than any of them...

...If he ever makes contact...

Cabrera > Ordonez

Yay for new guys

All the new guys had good games:
Sweeney
Brown
Denorfia
Fiorentino
Harden
Foulke

ummm,

last time I checked, our whole team is new guys :)

since72 - March 26, 2008 reply

Because of all of Chavvys new parts in him does he count as new?

"refurbished"

At the price

I believe the preferred term is preowned

Future Ed - March 26, 2008 reply

Hey, you bought him "As Is" -

No refunds without a receipt. We do have a Hannahan, though, if you want an exchange.

I think I might have a 1992 Jerry Brown sitting around...

Can I get anything for that?

1% of the vote?

Sincerest Small Sample Size Apology to...

Keith Foulke.

Keith, when you read this, please know that I am very sorry. I thought you were washed up. After your spring, I was convinced that you pretty much sucked. But two times, in two games, in two pressure packed situations against a genuine ass and one of the most feared hitters in the game, you came through. I take back what I said about you.

For now.

since72 - March 26, 2008 reply

I remember Foulke saying, in his prime,

that sometimes he'd throw all fastballs knowing the hitter was waiting for a changeup. Just before the last pitch to Manny I said (to my brother), "fastball away gets him - changeup and Manny mashes it." It was a fastball painted on the outside corner, Manny frozen. Probably what Foulke was thinking when he faced D. Ortiz in Game 4...

This might be the best article ever written, I love being an A's fan

And Rich Harden, who started the game, bought an ancient samurai sword, fully authenticated."I nearly bought some armor, too," Harden said. "Maybe next time."Harden's sword is from the early Edo period, roughly 1650, and it combines two of his great interests, Japanese culture and swords.

I like that baseball and pitching arent his greatest interest. But now I wonder if all of his injuries really come from wielding a halberd at home in his spare time

given his past

he should have bought the damn armor too.

As a gift for BoCro, though.

I mean, Rich could still sprain muscles while wearing armor...

You're right.

In fact, he's probably more likely.

I thought Harden's two great interests were

injuring his right shoulder and injuring his left shoulder.

His true passion

Is throwing his hand out in front of hard smashes back up the middle.

I would like to boast real quick....

That was my first time using both a block quote and a link. I'm so pleased with myslef

Great job!

Jennifer - March 26, 2008 reply

Oh great!

When does the dismemberment begin?

I hope this ins't the start of me being jinxed

I slept through the whole game and they won. good job holding up the fort without me AN.
*sound of 100 people laughing*

micdog2001 - March 26, 2008 reply

Don't be absurd - we're not that superstitious

{mails sleeping pills to arrive Tuesday}

if you use Emil service

they will get there much quicker

But the post office

may cut off the delivery and make you look silly.

Talk about superstitious

Right now is the perfect time to load up on Carlos Gonzales Rookie cards. The problem is every rookie player I seem to buy, tanks. I bought 800 Eric Plunk rookies. He tanked. I bought a boatload of Jason Giambi PSA Topps Rated Rookie's. He tanked. The last person I bought was Sean Burroughs, a can't miss super prospect witht he Padres. He really tanked. Is there any conclusions to be drawn?

alpine26 - March 26, 2008 reply

I conclude that I would like for you to not buy any Carlos Gonzales rookie cards.

Is our children learning?

Be sure to stock up on Brandon Wood rookie cards.

This team is better than critics think

I would hate Harden to go to another team and do to us what he did to Boston.

This is one guy you don't trade and just pray that he stays healthy because there are not many out there who have better stuff if any.

I myself think this is the year he stays healthy

TimTimTimbo - March 26, 2008 reply

just a hunch or inside track?

or did you find a penny this morning?

or am I completely punchy about consecutive 3am wake-ups?

It's not a hunch -

The guy checked with Larry Davis before posting. To do otherwise would be unresponsible.

FormerHuntsvilleStar - March 26, 2008 reply

Simply thrilled for Emil Brown

After yesterday's mistake, it was absolutely wonderful to see him rip that ball into the left field stands. Gotta love the goat-to-hero-in-a-day world of baseball...

Nico reply about goats-to-heros in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

(Of course now he won't do it.)

The only thing goats and heros have in common

is that they both make for a great sandwich. Happy?

FormerHuntsvilleStar - March 26, 2008 reply

Yes. The world hasn't gone completely crazy. :)

"The only thing better is a nice MLT..."

"Mutton, Lettuce and Tomato, when the mutton is nice an lean and the tomato is ripe. Mm, they're so perky."

Elvez - March 26, 2008 reply

Signs you know too much about baseball, #358

I read that sentence as "Murton, Lettuce and Tomato," and was thinking "Why would you make a sandwich with a mercurial Cubs platoon outfielder?"

PaulThomas - March 26, 2008 reply

Exact opposite...

for Game 1 hero Moss....from hero-to-the-minors.....

arch - March 26, 2008 reply

Hey, Kurt Suzuki is tied for the major league lead in doubles!

I think he already has more this season than Kendall's career total with the A's ....

DrFunkenstein - March 26, 2008 reply

My two minor issues after a win

1- If they could play "Sweet Caroline" in game yesterday, why no "Celebration" after the win?

2-This probably was brought up in a thread and I haven't hit it yet, but the in-game recap topped it all. I can understand that the announcers are idiots and would mispronounce or forget the names of newer players. But how in the hell can you have a graphic that gives the stats for a great outing by "Rich Hardin".

I guess I should just be happy it wasn't Dan Hardun.

Richard Harden...

I kinda wish they would have just gone all out with "Dick Hardon", and we all could have had a party when they got their FCC fine.

PortlandPachyderm - March 26, 2008 reply

Harden on the mound is like taking a Viagra...

...Not that I would really know anything about that or anything, but that's beside the point.
Ahem, anyway like I was saying:
• He can make you forget all about the poor results from the night before
• His "upside" can make even the oldest of men feel young again
• Now If he can just keep it up without going limp due to a "repetitive use injury"... :)

Another similarity:

He usually lasts about 8 hours.

PortlandPachyderm - March 26, 2008 reply

But if you can time it right

He sure comes up big, doesn't he?

Apparently, they did play "Celebration" according to people listening to radio

But ESPN cut away for a commercial.

Actually...

...I think they played "Who can it be now?" by Men At Work

nice handle

LOL

I second that with a LOL!

You clever little monkey

Han+Rahan+Fran

The Athletics Nation Braintrust never ceases to amaze

PortlandPachyderm - March 26, 2008 reply

I thought maybe it was

Hanrahananny until I saw your ID :)

Hanrahananny! That's awesome.

I didn't even think of that.

it's a hell of a campaign ...

... midget and broom and whatnot.

THINGS MY FATHER BEAT ME WITH!

This is too easy.

he obviously never beat you with a dangling preposition ...

Lead off hitters

I believe Buck needs to be aggressive if he is going to bat in the lead off position. I think Ellis could be good in that spot. But it's stil early so we shall see

Aggressive

is exactly what you DON'T want out of your leadoff hitter.

A walk is as good as a single in the leadoff spot.

Plus whatever benefits you get out of "seeing what the pitcher's got," which are probably minimal but might be worth something to the #2 and #3 hitters.

PaulThomas - March 26, 2008 reply

Actually a walk is better.

Typically it takes more pitches to earn a walk than a hit.

Gee I guess I disagree

why do you always have to hate on peoples comments?

paulthomas

I didn't "hate on" your comment

I rebutted it.

I see no issue here, sorry.

I know I've been touchy lately with all the trolls that have been popping up around here (and to your credit, you don't appear to be one), but there was nothing cantankerous in that reply.

PaulThomas - March 26, 2008 reply

I agree, PT, fwiw

I also think some of the others you've been "touchy with" are not trolls - they're just people disagreeing with you.

Nico - March 27, 2008 reply

I'm just saying...

Sometimes people having differing opinions then you and it doesn't mean that they are wrong. I am just saying I prefer my leadoff hitters to swing for base hits, and thank you for recongnizing that I am not a troll!

butler19 - March 27, 2008 reply

I'm hesitant to even go there but

Harden, yes! Let's go OAKLAND

Rob Neyer just linked to this post!

Of course, he called this blog "A's Nation", but pretty cool anyway:

Considering the low expectations for the A's entering this season, you can hardly fault A's Nation's baseballgirl for being just a little giddy about this morning's game ...

Then he quotes BBG. Then:

The thing is, though, I think the A's are going to be pretty good regardless of how many games Harden starts. Granted, if the A's continue to deal their pitchers -- Joe Blanton, perhaps, and/or Harden if he's healthy -- the picture changes. But at the moment, everyone seems to expect the A's to win 75 games and the Mariners 85, and I'm convinced that those expectations should be reversed. Or nearly reversed. I have the M's winning 76 games and the A's winning 81 games ... and it's not hard to see them winning 84 if Harden is reasonably healthy.

There's more, but that's probably as much as I can lift with "fair use" in mind.

I think ESPN just blew by their Oakland A's media quota for the year

Neyer doesn't count

He's one of those silly stat guys that no one pays any attention to.

Hungry Hungry Homer - March 26, 2008 reply

Casilla undergoes ANOTHER name change?!?

Does Michael Silverman from the Herald know something that I don't know here?

Felix Casilla, the first A’s reliever to come in for Harden, had electric stuff. He allowed one hit and struck out both Brandon Moss and Jason Varitek.

Maybe

Castilla could alternate.
Home whites: its Castilla.
Road Greys: Garcia
Alternate green tops: WHo knows How about Santigo Powers

Future Ed - March 26, 2008 reply

Well, Steve Phillips kept calling him "Casillas"

Faust - March 26, 2008 reply

Seems like we are the nobody's this season!

Nobody knows who we are....literally!

Hungry Hungry Homer - March 26, 2008 reply

I like when we're in stealth mode.

seems to me being under the radar usually works for the A's. imagine some poor slob trying to find a scouting report on our here-to-fore never heard of reliever with 'electric stuff' named "Felix Casilla". hah!

Wouldn't it be great if...

They pronounced it "Frelix Casilla"?

Eclectic stuff, that Casillas

So why didn't Dale Beane do his interview?

BWH - March 26, 2008 reply

Yubris.

OW! My lungs!

Still hurts to laugh. Stop that.

I think he was going to do it

when Defronia pinch hit for Florentine, but Bob Green used Mark Sweeney instead so Bean never got on Mike.