A's and O's heading to extra innings after both teams have been fairly inept offensively tonight. Game tied 1-1 with both teams "that close" to winning it in the ninth.
But since I’m preaching not overreacting, I’m going to stick to my guns in the face of an exciting win and say I don’t much care for him as an everyday player.
Not questioning the defense that goes without saying
You will notice that most of his outs with runners on are UNPRODUCTIVE. He does not help in that situation.
He hits well in the second half but the least he can do is attmept to look like he is trying to move runners and not look totally lost at the plate. I like Mark Ellis, he has been rock solid for us overall over the years but this auto-out stuff is getting old. I see we are facing a lefty tomorrow so he will be in the 2 hole. I would play Barton in the 2 hole against the Lefty and move Ellis down to the 7 or 8 hole
10 seconds before Emil’s hit, I see all these comments saying “Yes!” “Woohoo!” “Thank you Email!” And I’m all like… “What, what? What happened? Gaaaaa suspense… killing… me… Woo hooo!”
Back of the envelope calculation: A’s play, what, 26 games a month? 26 games * 3 hours per game * 60 minutes per hour = 10,080 minutes per month… I hope they don’t charge by the minute.
But he does make me nervous. That’ll happen with a reliever who is, essentially, about average for his career.
Why should one game change an opinion about Brown? Can’t I be thrilled he came through in a big spot and still think that, overall, he’s not very good? It’s this day to day living and dying with each player that I really don’t like. Maybe I’m a hard sell, but just as I wasn’t ready to dump Cust for a slow month, I’m not ready to say how awesome Brown is for a slighty-above-his-personal-average month.
And Street really didn’t pitch poorly tonight. The leadoff double hurt, but after that (the walk, I think, was unintentionally intentional) he was good. Giving up the run was as much bad luck as anything.
Cuz I’ve seen you around here and you seem like a nice guy. But a solid career with good, consistent numbers isn’t something you regress from at age 24. He’s pitching about like he always pitches: not completely 100% shutdown .67 WHIP, just an above-average, competent closer that converts the vast, vast majority of his save opportunities.
I just happen to think we do have shutdown guys on this team. He’s clearly not one of them. And, that’s what you want as a closer. If Billy’s keeping him in that role to enhance his value as trade bait, that’s cool with me, but I just hate to sacrifice wins on the alter of trade value.
they didn’t expect him to be perfect. He doesn’t have to be a great closer in order to still be a good closer. That’s how I see him: A good-but-not-great closer. We could do worse.
having worse pitching in the 7th/8th? Or do you want Street pitching in the 8th and Casilla in the 9th, meaning both are not in their most familiar/comfortable roles but you still get the same number of innings from each?
they’d all be better closers. Street can be the 7th inning guy. That way, it’s not as painful (nor crucial) when he gives up the inevitable run. We still have more time to come back from it.
that’s the key. Ninth inning isn’t necessarily the most important inning. It is, however, the inning that makes the fans squirm the most. So what’s more important? Making the fans less anxious, or maximizing your chance of winning the game?
OK, so I said earlier that I didn't think people lied very often on sports blogs
But saying Street is “inevitably” going to give up runs is a lie. Straight up. You are intentionally falsifying facts to make an argument. And it’s bullshit. If you can make your case, do it without retarded-ass exaggerations.
It’ll all blow over when Street goes down with his annual injury and we can all argue over whether it should be Devine or Casilla…To be quite Frank it is nice to have all these “shut-down” guys in any of the last 3 innings to worry about where to put them.
And his ERA was 3.77 before tonight. Was he good before he gave up 1 run that boosted his ERA almost half a run?
It’s really, really tough to get a Hoffman or Rivera on your team. And, aside from that, I don’t really believe Street is closing because Beane/Geren believes he’s the best reliever on the team anyway. I’d rather see Brown or Casilla in the 7th/8th with 2 runners on and 1 out. Let Street come in to start the 9th. Most of the time, he’s gonna get the job done.
OK this is the second time I've seen "I'd rather have Brown..."
I mean when it comes to debating Casilla vs Street, it’s starting to become debatable who’s better. Even Devine has always been known to be absolutely filthy, but never been able to put it together. Throwing Andrew Brown, who is pitching very well, into that mix is starting to go a little too far, imo.
and he continues to get one after another after another after another after another after another after another …. runner in to touch home plate …. which, correct me if I’m wrong … you need to do in order to win games. Cuz you can get all the baserunners you want … if they don’t touch home if doesn’t meean a thing …
A #5 hitter getting RBIs should not really be considered something amazing. If he and Crosby were flip-flopped this season, Crosby would be the guy everybody was treating as the second coming.
I’m glad when he does well, but I’m not going to confuse the occasional productive at bat and the beneficiary of circumstance for an overall amazing performance.
I guess here’s the main thing people need to consider: If Brown were, say, the #8 hitter all year and another guy were hitting in his spot in the order, would the A’s be any worse? I don’t think they would be. I mean, not unless that #5 guy was significantly worse or anything.
Jay Payton without the plus-defense. Payton was a hacker who came up big a bunch of times but had a low OBP and as a result a so-so OPS. But he could play all three OF positions well, and Brown plays one position OK.
can I just say that what Emil Brown has done before this year means absolutely nothing in this conversation? What has he done as an Oakland Athletic? Oh, that’s right, he wins ballgames.
but no matter how many times you do, it’s still rubbish.
If you ignore what a player has done in the past when you’re deciding what to do in the future… well, you might as well pencil ME in as the #5 hitter. I’ve never been retired!
if a guys has hit .250 every season for 5 years, but he’s currently 25 for 30, you’re gonna sit him down, because it isn’t “sustainable”? Wow. Stupid. How is a guy playing NOW?! That’s all that matters dude—tonights game …. not some game last year … who gives a damn?!
because I’m at a loss to think of an A’s hitter right now who would KNOCK THE RUNNER IN ON SUCH A CONSISTENT BASIS!!! You act like this team (the last couple seasons) makes a habit of knocking in RISP (????) This team has been unbelievably abysmal at it … and now we have a guy who does it ... and he does it regularly. I don’t think Emil Brown is great … I just think he’s doing an awesome job of winning games for us by knocking in runs. I don’t give a damn about anything else …
not that it matters to me … but I wonder what Emil’s conversion rate (however you want to measure it) is with RISP vs. other #5 batters around the league with RISP … the fact that he’s #2 in RBI shouldn’t be a product of just circumstance, unless he happens to get way more RISP opportunities than other #5 batters.
All this said, I think he’d be even better if he could psych himself into thinking that all his at-bats are with RISP.
why are we even talking about “sustainable”?! Who cares if it’s sustainable. The guy is coming through like a champ! Can’t we just say “Damn, this guy is hitting his ass off—GREAT JOB!”
to stay ahead of the curve and make good decisions for future wins/losses – which matter a lot since we aren’t likely to re-win or re-lose any of the games already played.
Seriously … “Sorry Emil … I know you’re hitting .400 and have a 50 game hitting streak, but you know as well as I do, you can’t keep it up … so we’re sittin’ you down.”
It’s like being at a table with a craps table where one roller, for whatever reason, is doing better than expected for the last hour or so … you know it can’t go on forever, but heck, for the time being, enjoy the ride instead of being that guy claiming ‘he’s gonna crap out, he’s gonna crap out’ before every winner. In my head, I know Emil will eventually become bad-Scutaro in the clutch … until then, he has my support.
I’ve seen (and said) “I really appreciate what he’s done – but that doesn’t mean I think he’s ‘the answer’ to our corner OF needs.” Just our answer for now, which is great.
is every bit as dumb as claiming “he’s going to hit, he’s going to hit.”
Both of them display a complete lack of understanding of probability. He’s exactly as likely to hit next time as any other time. Just like the next time Emil Brown comes up with RISP, when his odds of getting a hit are somewhere in the close vicinity of 273 out of 1000.
to be a 1-1 victory in overtime. Tell your mom she is no match for a failing teenage cosmetology student. And tell her to do something about her hair – seriously.
he’s taking the cindi thing way too far. it has crossed the line from whimsical fun to some sort of delusion. i feel very very sorry for his family. how they must suffer.
The cat has clearly begun to take too far the idea that some guy lives in this Alaska igloo. At first it was sad, then tragic. Now it’s just sad again.
okay, it’s 2008 and I have been living alone in alaska with a cat since….well, lets not dwell in the past, but it’s going since on 19—. Gee whiz, I hope this weeks interview for that position in Denver goes well and I don’t act out again when they ask those personal questions.
I vote Devine
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
You get your wish.
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
Cute!
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
I'm good with Devine
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Extra Inning Mojo!
0akFoSho - May 5, 2008
Quadruple Overtime?
Sudden Victory for the A’s if they can score!!
Hit4TheCycle - May 5, 2008
No Shark MoJO!
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
Now who's pitching???
unknown territory… how many x-innings have the A’s played??
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
1-1 in extras this season
0akFoSho - May 5, 2008
Same as your handle
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
see ya
HRH - May 5, 2008
I like the Fosse
said Devine’s fastball was his “good ol’ country heat.”
We never see “Theres his urban flame”
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
I like that Fosse
said Devine’s fastball was his “good ol’ country heat.”
We never see “Theres his urban flame”
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
Fewer baseball fields in the inner city.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
If you build it they will come
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
Awesome.
Visit Dyersville, Iowa! See the Field of Dreams!
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
trade street and put devine in as closer
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
Oh. Come on.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Didn't you know?
It’s our job as fans to overreact to everything.
Fire Frank Thomas. Trade Houston Street. Cut Emil Brown.
Actually, I’d be fine with that last one.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
we'd
need to get him a bandaid…of course
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
Sure. ESPN wouldn't exist without their negativity.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Come again?
UncleLeo - May 5, 2008
Yeah, yeah
This face? Egg.
But since I’m preaching not overreacting, I’m going to stick to my guns in the face of an exciting win and say I don’t much care for him as an everyday player.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
Seems this comment took place before the walkoff single tonight?
dtownmbrown - May 5, 2008
No, I just reeeeeally hate seeing other people succeed
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
It seems like the ump has widened his zone.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Devine's 2-seamer is illegal in 48 states
That thing is nasty at 95.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
I like that Fosse
said Devine’s fastball was his “good ol’ country heat.”
We never see “Theres his urban flame”
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
You must really, really like that.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
I like that Fosse
said Devine’s fastball was…
BWAHAHA
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
oops
double post
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
you can say that again
mrrickyg - May 5, 2008
I like the home plate ump much much much more than the guy at first
mikeA - May 5, 2008
devine for closer
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
Great job, Devine
I hope Huston’s taking notes.
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
To be fair
Huston had several close pitches called balls and Devine got a couple of balls called strikes.
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
No doubt. This ump has a dinner reservation.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
I think he got lost in Joey's eyes
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
I thought all Street's were in fact balls,
but Devine got a couple breaks – and threw the ball great. Best I’ve seen so far.
Nico - May 5, 2008
I'm talking more about the Melvin Mora AB
Two pitches that were right on the black on the outside corner were called balls that I thought should’ve been called strikes.
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
I didn't think they were close enough.
emar24 - May 5, 2008
eh most of them weren't close enough to be considered strikes.
emar24 - May 5, 2008
huston's that is
emar24 - May 5, 2008
Like I said
Two sliders he threw earlier to Mora were strikes.
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
devine has a nice explosvie fastball street doesnt, trade him and get value
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
This guy's better than the earlier home plate umpire
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
Let's hope the broken clock theory is at work here
Ellis does something productive that is
Maybe Suzuki can homer to left so Ellis does not have to bat but if he does, how about coming thru just once
Trainman - May 5, 2008
didn't everyone expect Street to blow that save?
I did.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
+1
ellisD - May 5, 2008
Pessimist
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
That reminds me.
My beer is half empty. Time for a trip to the fridge!
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
Expect?
No. Fear? Yes.
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
Street is a great closer
when two or more runs support him.
His one run save attempts make me nervous as hell.
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
i went and saw henry rodriguez throw tonight aginst frisco
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
kid has some good stuff but needs some time in the minors
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
What was his line?
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Rodriguez, H (L, 1-2) 2.1 6 4 4 3 6 0 5.87
mikeA - May 5, 2008
Jumping from Double A from High A is the hardest for a pitcher
or so I’ve heard. Give him another month.
lenscrafters - May 5, 2008
Surely you aren't talking about Devine or Eveland?
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
No, Street ; /
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
He's talking about Henry Rodriguez
Read the comment above.
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
Ah ha. Thanks.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Street?
or, “SFIU”??
Just laughing. Not that invested.
Not like the Lookout landing guys…
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
C'mon, HURT!!
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Ok Frank, enough BS, send us home
HRH - May 5, 2008
HAHA!!! +1
MMunoz33 - May 5, 2008
C'mon, Frank-eeeeeeeeee!
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
What's with the "single"???
Didn’t Francesco give him the “HR” sign????!!!
I mean, it’s gettin’ late!
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
Jim Johnson is afraid of Frank
HRH - May 5, 2008
Everyone is afraid
Superman wears Frank Thomas pajamas.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
I'd be scared
to walk into the store that Superman bought Frank Thomas pajamas…
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Buffalo Bill, your friendly neighborhood storekeep
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
he should have swung and missed to try to induce a pitch in the zone
mrrickyg - May 5, 2008
One of Willie Mays favorites
He’d purposely swing through pitches in the early innings, hoping for the same pitch when “it mattered”.
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
C'mon Emil...
send us home… lol
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
YAY!!!
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
RBI Machine!
HRH - May 5, 2008
WOOOOO
mikeA - May 5, 2008
yeah
HRH - May 5, 2008
nice
good job emil!
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
NICE!!
THANK YOU EMIL!!
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
henry rodriguez line for tonight
2.1 inning 6 hits 4 er’s 3 walks 6k’s
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
are they going to appeal at 3rd? i thought he missed thebag
mrrickyg - May 5, 2008
me too
HRH - May 5, 2008
naw he got it no prob
mrrickyg - May 5, 2008
Wow. I think he did.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Emil Brown, clutch hitter
WaddellCanseco - May 5, 2008
A's Win!!!!!!!!!!!
HRH - May 5, 2008
A win is a win. Yeah!
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
CUT EMIL!!
JUNKBALLER!
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
BROWN
IS THE MAN!
tomoyo - May 5, 2008
I'm starting to believe in the word "clutch"
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
Told you we were going to win!
Englishmajor - May 5, 2008
blez he didnt have his good stuff tonight
buckfan6 - May 5, 2008
RBI machine!!!!!!!!!!
MMunoz33 - May 5, 2008
good job emil, but I'd like to know how many rbi chances he's had
emar24 - May 5, 2008
Emil Brown...
the better Jay Payton. ;-)
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
I'll buy that
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
+2
MMunoz33 - May 5, 2008
most excellent and true enough for me. far better.
ak_A - May 5, 2008
Clutch
Beautiful
Thank God Ellis had already made the out because he would have failed
Sorry but I cannot stand Ellis at the moment
Trainman - May 5, 2008
He's having a tough streak.
Show some loyalty to a player who has come through defensively for us so many times.
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
Not questioning the defense that goes without saying
You will notice that most of his outs with runners on are UNPRODUCTIVE. He does not help in that situation.
He hits well in the second half but the least he can do is attmept to look like he is trying to move runners and not look totally lost at the plate. I like Mark Ellis, he has been rock solid for us overall over the years but this auto-out stuff is getting old. I see we are facing a lefty tomorrow so he will be in the 2 hole. I would play Barton in the 2 hole against the Lefty and move Ellis down to the 7 or 8 hole
Trainman - May 5, 2008
I agree with moving Ellis down
He’s just a little cold right now. But he’ll come around. We can’t come down too hard on him.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
His career stats are best when hitting in the 8th spot
look it up
dtownmbrown - May 5, 2008
Should have won this in 9
HRH - May 5, 2008
Does it matter?
baseb3383 - May 5, 2008
now that we won, no
HRH - May 5, 2008
iglew - May 5, 2008
nice
HRH - May 5, 2008
Mike Sweeney hugs so good
Flashfire - May 5, 2008
I like Emil, for one day
Except the clutch talk is reaching Crede levels of obnoxious. (What a clutch walk by Frank Thomas, preceded by a clutch 2-out single by Barton).
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
Hey can't we all just celebrate the victory?
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
::Happy Dance::
How’s that?
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
Perfect. Clutch-ish you might say.
ohtobe21likehuston - May 5, 2008
My happy dancing comes in the clutchiest of moments
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
I woke up in Germany...
...just in time to see the bottom of the 10th.
I’m so clutch!
GreenNGoldSooner - May 5, 2008
Wahoo!
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
You wouldn't do that to the guy in the five thousand dollar suit...C'mon!
drink409 - May 5, 2008
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
A's win!
drink409 - May 5, 2008
i like that. what id it?
ak_A - May 5, 2008
you are
quickly become one of my favorite posters
BigTuna - May 5, 2008
This is why I hate MLB.TV
10 seconds before Emil’s hit, I see all these comments saying “Yes!” “Woohoo!” “Thank you Email!” And I’m all like… “What, what? What happened? Gaaaaa suspense… killing… me… Woo hooo!”
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
I just stop reading recent comments...
....in moments like that.
GreenNGoldSooner - May 5, 2008
What, and risk becoming a pariah?
Oh, what am I talking about. I’m already a pariah.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
Gotta get a free telephone call
at minimum, so you can hear the game live.
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
Good idea.
After all, I’ve already got your Mom’s number.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
I have mlb.tv also and usually when the feed is behind it's because of the internet connection
emar24 - May 5, 2008
Well, it's trying to assemble a picture before
transmitting it. Depends on your rate of transmission.
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
MLB radio is where it's at.
Cheaper, too.
iglew - May 5, 2008
We're gonna have to get you on Skype
long distance, and then play KenKo, and Vince into your phone, so at minimum you can hear it as it happens…..
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
Let's see.
Back of the envelope calculation: A’s play, what, 26 games a month? 26 games * 3 hours per game * 60 minutes per hour = 10,080 minutes per month… I hope they don’t charge by the minute.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
I don't think they do
I think that’s the beauty of it.
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
Emil with the clutch cut
Samurai
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Let me guess....
....that picture was Larry Davis’s idea.
GreenNGoldSooner - May 5, 2008
Everything is his idea
unless the Simpsons did it.
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Lost in the shuffle
Was the performance of Embree (much hated around here)
Brown quieted some of his critics tonight (no—he won’t be sent away when Buck or CarGon come back/up
And I have to give credit to Street—after a near-disastrous beginning—the fact is that he did his job and stopped the bleeding.
And hard to see either Eveland or Smith going anywhere—me thinks either a 6 man rotation or Duke to the pen might be in the offing when Harden returns
madmongoose - May 5, 2008
Embree isn't hated.
IM4Oakgal - May 5, 2008
+22
We like Embree
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
love the guy
am only sort of a fan of his pitching.
mrrickyg - May 5, 2008
Unlike Street, he never did us the disservice of pitching really really well for three years
so we can’t complain every time he gives up a run.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
I don't hate Embree
But he does make me nervous. That’ll happen with a reliever who is, essentially, about average for his career.
Why should one game change an opinion about Brown? Can’t I be thrilled he came through in a big spot and still think that, overall, he’s not very good? It’s this day to day living and dying with each player that I really don’t like. Maybe I’m a hard sell, but just as I wasn’t ready to dump Cust for a slow month, I’m not ready to say how awesome Brown is for a slighty-above-his-personal-average month.
And Street really didn’t pitch poorly tonight. The leadoff double hurt, but after that (the walk, I think, was unintentionally intentional) he was good. Giving up the run was as much bad luck as anything.
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
+1
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
his pattern of bad luck...
and 4.11 ERA convinces me otherwise. HE IS NOT GOOD!
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
Uh, he has a career ERA of 2.66
And he’s only 24. That’s… pretty good.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
yeah, well, it's time he started regressing to his mean this year...
because he sucks this year!
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
I don't want to get into a pissing contest
Cuz I’ve seen you around here and you seem like a nice guy. But a solid career with good, consistent numbers isn’t something you regress from at age 24. He’s pitching about like he always pitches: not completely 100% shutdown .67 WHIP, just an above-average, competent closer that converts the vast, vast majority of his save opportunities.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
hey, that's okay...
I just happen to think we do have shutdown guys on this team. He’s clearly not one of them. And, that’s what you want as a closer. If Billy’s keeping him in that role to enhance his value as trade bait, that’s cool with me, but I just hate to sacrifice wins on the alter of trade value.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
Right
Like tonight. He sacrificed a win, for sure.
The A’s did lose this game, right?
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
no, because Mr. Clutch...
came through for us. Luck? No way.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
Fans would like Street a lot more if
they didn’t expect him to be perfect. He doesn’t have to be a great closer in order to still be a good closer. That’s how I see him: A good-but-not-great closer. We could do worse.
Nico - May 5, 2008
we could do better...
with guys currently on the team.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
How? By putting Casilla in and
having worse pitching in the 7th/8th? Or do you want Street pitching in the 8th and Casilla in the 9th, meaning both are not in their most familiar/comfortable roles but you still get the same number of innings from each?
Nico - May 5, 2008
Casilla, Devine, Brown...
they’d all be better closers. Street can be the 7th inning guy. That way, it’s not as painful (nor crucial) when he gives up the inevitable run. We still have more time to come back from it.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
"painful"
that’s the key. Ninth inning isn’t necessarily the most important inning. It is, however, the inning that makes the fans squirm the most. So what’s more important? Making the fans less anxious, or maximizing your chance of winning the game?
iglew - May 5, 2008
maybe Devine as closer...
would make fans less anxious and maximze our chance of winning. Certainly, Street increases anxiousness and our chance of losing.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
I sounds like you're still assuming that the 9th
is the most important inning to have good pitching, and that’s just not true.
iglew - May 5, 2008
I think the 1st inning is the most important inning
to have good pitching.
Nico - May 5, 2008
I'm not...
I just want to win every game we lead going into the 9th. Is that too much to ask? ;-)
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
What if you were offered a guarantee
that we never give up a lead in the 7th inning? Is that just as good?
iglew - May 5, 2008
yes
offer it and I’ll accept. And, we can keep our crappy closer until he’s traded.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
OK, so I said earlier that I didn't think people lied very often on sports blogs
But saying Street is “inevitably” going to give up runs is a lie. Straight up. You are intentionally falsifying facts to make an argument. And it’s bullshit. If you can make your case, do it without retarded-ass exaggerations.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
that was the...
“figuratively inevitable” run. Sorry you couldn’t parse the sarcasm.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
Your post doesn't suggest an understanding
of the word “lie” or “facts,” PT. But at least you insult the retarded!
Nico - May 5, 2008
I had it coming
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
Though I'd like to point out that his career WHIP is 1.03
Which ain’t shabby.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
It's not; same as his career save % is not great
I’d say that as a closer, he is better than his save % and worse than his WHIP.
Nico - May 5, 2008
I'll take 10
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
AWWWW
It’ll all blow over when Street goes down with his annual injury and we can all argue over whether it should be Devine or Casilla…To be quite Frank it is nice to have all these “shut-down” guys in any of the last 3 innings to worry about where to put them.
dtownmbrown - May 5, 2008
Yup
Hope Huston stays healthy, but if not, keep Embree away from spot-closing.
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
He has 2 blown saves this year
And his ERA was 3.77 before tonight. Was he good before he gave up 1 run that boosted his ERA almost half a run?
It’s really, really tough to get a Hoffman or Rivera on your team. And, aside from that, I don’t really believe Street is closing because Beane/Geren believes he’s the best reliever on the team anyway. I’d rather see Brown or Casilla in the 7th/8th with 2 runners on and 1 out. Let Street come in to start the 9th. Most of the time, he’s gonna get the job done.
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
yes
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
by yes, i mean...
he’s sucked this year, in case it wasn’t clear. A 3.77 ERA for a closer isn’t good. Not in my book, anyway.
FoolshGame22 - May 5, 2008
fair enough, at least 16 closers have better ERA's so far this year
Rickeyfan - May 5, 2008
OK this is the second time I've seen "I'd rather have Brown..."
I mean when it comes to debating Casilla vs Street, it’s starting to become debatable who’s better. Even Devine has always been known to be absolutely filthy, but never been able to put it together. Throwing Andrew Brown, who is pitching very well, into that mix is starting to go a little too far, imo.
mrrickyg - May 6, 2008
Brown gives a good interview
He was good at fanfest too.
mikeA - May 5, 2008
it's not just a snack
it’s EMIL
flipgatey3 - May 5, 2008
Hey, that's my line!
Actually, I stole it from Royals Review. But it’s a good one.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
my buddy is a huge royals fan
i heard that one in ‘06 when he was doing so well.
he hates emil now.
flipgatey3 - May 5, 2008
It's not worth a grand
It’s EMIL
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
We would've taken a centimeter
but we took the win with EMIL
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
The opposing pitcher called in sick on the mound
Because he said EMIL
okay, I’ll stop now
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
Devine picks up the win!
Nice!
One won lost won - May 5, 2008
He Has more wins than Blanton
dtownmbrown - May 5, 2008
Once again jd44
Emil makes you look like an idiot … WHO”S YOUR DADDY??!!
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
Apparently Emil is
oaklandSMASH - May 5, 2008
See the post I made about him up there a little bit.
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
I read it ...
and he continues to get one after another after another after another after another after another after another …. runner in to touch home plate …. which, correct me if I’m wrong … you need to do in order to win games. Cuz you can get all the baserunners you want … if they don’t touch home if doesn’t meean a thing …
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
Before tonight, he had a .694 OPS this year
A #5 hitter getting RBIs should not really be considered something amazing. If he and Crosby were flip-flopped this season, Crosby would be the guy everybody was treating as the second coming.
I’m glad when he does well, but I’m not going to confuse the occasional productive at bat and the beneficiary of circumstance for an overall amazing performance.
I guess here’s the main thing people need to consider: If Brown were, say, the #8 hitter all year and another guy were hitting in his spot in the order, would the A’s be any worse? I don’t think they would be. I mean, not unless that #5 guy was significantly worse or anything.
thejd44 - May 5, 2008
I'd say Brown has pretty much been
Jay Payton without the plus-defense. Payton was a hacker who came up big a bunch of times but had a low OBP and as a result a so-so OPS. But he could play all three OF positions well, and Brown plays one position OK.
Nico - May 5, 2008
and again ...
can I just say that what Emil Brown has done before this year means absolutely nothing in this conversation? What has he done as an Oakland Athletic? Oh, that’s right, he wins ballgames.
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
You can SAY it
but no matter how many times you do, it’s still rubbish.
If you ignore what a player has done in the past when you’re deciding what to do in the future… well, you might as well pencil ME in as the #5 hitter. I’ve never been retired!
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
Yes, but can you swing at every first pitch?
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
So, you're telling me
if a guys has hit .250 every season for 5 years, but he’s currently 25 for 30, you’re gonna sit him down, because it isn’t “sustainable”? Wow. Stupid. How is a guy playing NOW?! That’s all that matters dude—tonights game …. not some game last year … who gives a damn?!
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
..........
I don’t even know how to respond to this.
You’re so divorced from reality I abandon hope of curing you.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
Because again,
you’ve never swung a bat in your life … and it shows.
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
He's not divorced from reality
He’s just enjoying the recent past and the present, and not caring about strategizing for the future.
Nothing wrong with that. I love Emil, too, for the exact same reason.
iglew - May 5, 2008
Have you ever considered not responding, PT?
70% of your comments, IMO, should be:
” ” (preview) (cancel)
The rest are good.
Nico - May 5, 2008
I've considered not posting on game threads...
the only reason I posted on this one was that the recap wasn’t up yet.
Which it now is, so I will abandon my quixotic efforts on behalf of reality.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
Yes he does
And he just saved Huston Street’s arse
Trainman - May 5, 2008
No, they probably would be worse
because I’m at a loss to think of an A’s hitter right now who would KNOCK THE RUNNER IN ON SUCH A CONSISTENT BASIS!!! You act like this team (the last couple seasons) makes a habit of knocking in RISP (????) This team has been unbelievably abysmal at it … and now we have a guy who does it ... and he does it regularly.
I don’t think Emil Brown is great … I just think he’s doing an awesome job of winning games for us by knocking in runs. I don’t give a damn about anything else …
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
This warrants a study
not that it matters to me … but I wonder what Emil’s conversion rate (however you want to measure it) is with RISP vs. other #5 batters around the league with RISP … the fact that he’s #2 in RBI shouldn’t be a product of just circumstance, unless he happens to get way more RISP opportunities than other #5 batters.
All this said, I think he’d be even better if he could psych himself into thinking that all his at-bats are with RISP.
Rickeyfan - May 5, 2008
Well, he's something like 13-30 with RISP
so I’m sure he’s up there in the league among #5 hitters – but not in a way that one could expect to be sustainable.
Nico - May 5, 2008
But see Nico,
why are we even talking about “sustainable”?! Who cares if it’s sustainable. The guy is coming through like a champ! Can’t we just say “Damn, this guy is hitting his ass off—GREAT JOB!”
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
Because sustainable allows you
to stay ahead of the curve and make good decisions for future wins/losses – which matter a lot since we aren’t likely to re-win or re-lose any of the games already played.
Nico - May 5, 2008
So when do you sit him down then?
Seriously … “Sorry Emil … I know you’re hitting .400 and have a 50 game hitting streak, but you know as well as I do, you can’t keep it up … so we’re sittin’ you down.”
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
I'm in your casino ...
It’s like being at a table with a craps table where one roller, for whatever reason, is doing better than expected for the last hour or so … you know it can’t go on forever, but heck, for the time being, enjoy the ride instead of being that guy claiming ‘he’s gonna crap out, he’s gonna crap out’ before every winner. In my head, I know Emil will eventually become bad-Scutaro in the clutch … until then, he has my support.
Rickeyfan - May 5, 2008
Exactly!
No one’s saying Emil is Mickey Mantle … all I’m sayin’ is he’s been incredibly hot with RISP, how is that a bad thing??!!
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
It's not a bad thing
And when you see signs that the “John Mabry” run is over, you don’t let him flame out for 200 ABs reminiscing about that great April.
Nico - May 5, 2008
I totally agree with that Nico
all I’m saying is we ought to give credit where credit is due instead of saying, “Well, yeeeeaaaah, he came through again, but it ain’t gonna last …”
Vacafan - May 5, 2008
I'm not sure anyone is refusing to give credit
I’ve seen (and said) “I really appreciate what he’s done – but that doesn’t mean I think he’s ‘the answer’ to our corner OF needs.” Just our answer for now, which is great.
Nico - May 5, 2008
So you did not mean that the A's should continue playing him.
You would be OK with it if they sat him, because your only purpose in posting is to laud his accomplishments to this point.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
It's a good thing
It’s not going to last but it amazes me why people talk shit about the guy
Lets talk shit about Mark Ellis, He is currently the Anti-Brown
He looks at meatballs and fails in nearly every clutch situation he has been in
Please allow Barton to hit second tomorrow and move Ellis down the line
Trainman - May 5, 2008
Mark Ellis is a saint!
Joey C. - May 5, 2008
Claiming "he's gonna crap out"
is every bit as dumb as claiming “he’s going to hit, he’s going to hit.”
Both of them display a complete lack of understanding of probability. He’s exactly as likely to hit next time as any other time. Just like the next time Emil Brown comes up with RISP, when his odds of getting a hit are somewhere in the close vicinity of 273 out of 1000.
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
" "
(preview) (cancel)
See, I didn’t say what’s on my mind!
Nico - May 5, 2008
Your approach, on the other hand,
displays a complete lack of understanding of “woo-hoo!”
iglew - May 5, 2008
Has anyone been keeping track of Emil's "game-winning RBI"?
Sample size seems small or memory selective, but he seems more “clutchy” than Scoot.
Rickeyfan - May 5, 2008
This calls for a poll.
Most clutch:
a) Scoot
b) E-mail
c) Hatty
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
E-Mail by a mile
Scott won for us quite a few but in between he was bad,
Trainman - May 5, 2008
scoot that should be
Trainman - May 5, 2008
The A's just won 1-1 in "overtime"
was my greeting out of the shower – a combo of mom (overtime? I apparently have failed to teach her to say extra innings) and CSN incompetence…
NVAngela - May 5, 2008
Only Cindi can declare a baseball game
to be a 1-1 victory in overtime. Tell your mom she is no match for a failing teenage cosmetology student. And tell her to do something about her hair – seriously.
Nico - May 5, 2008
note in journal :
he’s taking the cindi thing way too far. it has crossed the line from whimsical fun to some sort of delusion. i feel very very sorry for his family. how they must suffer.
ak_A - May 5, 2008
rofl
flipgatey3 - May 5, 2008
note in journal:
The cat has clearly begun to take too far the idea that some guy lives in this Alaska igloo. At first it was sad, then tragic. Now it’s just sad again.
Nico - May 5, 2008
note to self:
okay, it’s 2008 and I have been living alone in alaska with a cat since….well, lets not dwell in the past, but it’s going since on 19—. Gee whiz, I hope this weeks interview for that position in Denver goes well and I don’t act out again when they ask those personal questions.
ak_A - May 5, 2008
That was the final score that CSN displayed
They’ve been having some graphics issues this season…
PaulThomas - May 5, 2008
Well that was a very fun game.
From where I was sitting, the strike zone seemed…well, shapeless.
pam5981 - May 5, 2008
agreed
flipgatey3 - May 5, 2008
The strike zone is like the Dao
It is a mystery to all but the most enlightened.
IowaA'sFan - May 5, 2008
Game wrap open
Tyler Bleszinski - May 5, 2008
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