The A's, despite being anemic tonight offensively, did have one shot to make the game interesting and that was the eighth inning when they finally got to Kyle Kendrick. The team had only four hits against Kendrick all night and the game was over when Greg Smith gave up one run in the first inning.
There weren't too many highlights to this game, but the one that sticks out in my mind is Ryan Sweeney gunning down Chase Utley at home. Kurt Suzuki courageously blocked the plate to stop Utley from scoring. I'm really coming to understand why all the kids are calling this guy Swooney.
The only other good news coming from the evening is that the A's are in talks to re-sign Mark Ellis to a contract extension beyond this season. Thank goodness. Ellis just seems like one of those players that needs to be an Oakland Athletic for life. Yeah, he's not flashy offensively or defensively, but I would say that he is probably in the top five second baseman in baseball when you take everything into account. Plus he is honestly one of the few players on the A's who I feel never, ever gives an AB away.
So the A's wrap up the series tomorrow with the team from their former city. Then again, Kansas City is one of those teams too. My question is, how many sports franchises can say that they spent some of their time on the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast? Not many. I know my New Jersey Devils used to be the Kansas City Scouts and the Colorado Rockies before settling in the Garden State. What is it with me and former Kansas City teams?
Rich Harden looks to go 5-0 against Adam Eaton who is 2-5. See you here at 12:35. I'll be really glad when this weekend is over and Interleague is in the rear view mirror, thank you very much.
0 recs | 24 comments
And Thank You!
Nico. I think my fan post title was better than yours, but clearly you have more insight. I concur, haha!
lynnzgal - June 26, 2008
It was Blez' title and story, but
my insight (which I transmitted to Blez through witchcraft).
Nico - June 26, 2008
At least the Angels lost, and Ellis has a better chance to stay in the Green and Gold.
Get Smart is a cool movie. It wasn’t great, but worth my leaving the house at the eighth inning.
oaklandSMASH - June 26, 2008
Blez, is it to much to say...
That a possible Ellis extension outweighs a game that the A’s would’ve lost no matter type of pitches Kyle “cy young” Kendrick threw tonite?
Taj Adib - June 26, 2008
God, it's so looserish to folllow my own post, but...
the phils stranded 12+ runners on-base tonite. Throw strikes guys! I mean, they do it to us, make them pay, don’t alliow another guy to have another career game against us! humiliating!
Taj Adib - June 26, 2008
Yes
It definitely outweighed this game.
Tyler Bleszinski - June 26, 2008
Happy Ellis Fans
Are Happy
Englishmajor - June 26, 2008
Wow, not much to say about this game
I guess I don’t have much to say either, except—Kyle frigging Kendrick? Seriously?
He’s terrible. He’s like a worse version of Joe Blanton.
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
and how many games
has Blanton lost 1-0?
At least 2 or 3.
MobiusKlein - June 26, 2008
I'm not saying Joe Blanton sucks
I’m saying Kendrick is like him, except worse, and therefore sucks.
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
Not much to watch.
The defensive lapses were especially distressing, although it would be hard to blame the outfielders. PatCraft had the runner nail-ed by two steps that Zooks clearly heard, Swooney did throw out Utley at the plate and the JCOA looked something like an outfielder in chasing Feliz’ triple. But the brainfarts on two bunts and Crosby’s muffed play were embarrassing, I hope.
The Dogfather - June 26, 2008
Only if the ump blew the call
The runner was safe even if Suzuki caught the throw cleanly. The replays showed the runner hitting the plate before Suzuki’s empty glove made contact with him.
Monday Fan - June 26, 2008
On the first play at the plate? Really?
Object lesson in eye-witness testimony. My recollection has the ball getting there well in-advance on one-hop, with it skipping out of Zooks’ glove and his starting to come up to pursue it by the time the runner got there.
The Dogfather - June 26, 2008
The first play at the plate was an out
The second—Gonzalez’s throw on the sac fly—Suzuki had no real play. It looked closer than it was because Suzuki had to bring his glove up to get the ball and back down again to tag the runner. MF’s assessment is correct here.
PaulThomas - June 26, 2008
Off topic
The site looks great. It has been quite some time since I last visited AN.com, which was four years ago and I bought a t-shirt I still wear.
Keep up the great work. I plan to visit more often. I moved to D.C. from the Bay Area (San Ramon) last December and where else would I go to find fellow A’s fans?
See you all around.
mattortega - June 26, 2008
...From San Ramon to D.C...?
..that must have hurt a bit :)
doubleplayer - June 26, 2008
"Big Hurt"
Yeah, it certainly hurt, in a myriad of ways.
What pains me the most is not being able to go to A’s games. They visit New York in July, but I will be in Texas at that time. I am hoping to get away from work in the first week of August to make the trek up to Fenway and catch a game there.
mattortega - June 26, 2008
I'm in DC for the summer
If it wasn’t so swampy it would be pretty great. Especially if I could watch A’s games on the tee vee.
nevermoor - June 26, 2008
Speaking of swelting in the D.C. summer
Check out these photos from the Giants/Nats game a couple weeks ago. You can see the humidity settle inside the stadium.
mattortega - June 26, 2008
Thanks
Welcome back!
Tyler Bleszinski - June 26, 2008
The Sacramento Kings
Rochester —> Kansas City -—-> Sacramento…
Sort of the same path as the A’s.
Hit4TheCycle - June 26, 2008
Omaha, too.
Monday Fan - June 26, 2008
Maybe I should make the Kings my basketball team?
Tyler Bleszinski - June 26, 2008
I forgot Cincinnati.
I think the full sequence goes Rochester -> Cincinnati -> KC/Omaha -> KC (dropped Omaha) -> Sacramento.
Monday Fan - June 26, 2008
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