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Open Game Thread: Game 105 - A's vs. Royals (cont.)

A's now down 4-1 because of an Alex Gordon two-run bomb.  Braden had been pitching pretty damn well up until now.

And how much do I love Carlos Gonzalez?  Way, way too much.

LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!

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Comments

CarGon's a machine!!
I hope they sign Carlos to a ten year contract
Just a sucky game
I'm going to sleep

Someone text me if we score.

WRF 3was that Alwz?

I wonder is Zooks

lets the other new guys on the team know that he’s sure he will have a job next year?

Go Kurt!

Lets get this rally started!

WHY MUST YIU ROB MY RY BEAR?
Esteban hates you ,Jennifer.

He told me once.

If this comment was coming from ohtobe21... I would have believed it.
Aren't you asleep?
I have auto-pilot.
Can I drive?
Sure.

You just have to type stupid shit

I can do that.

With no hands tied behind my back.

Excuse me?
Exsqueeze you what?

Abaking Powder?

He was typing stupid shit
stupid shit looks like this

stupid shit

Or was I?

only Jennifer will know for sure.

How would she know?
She just would.
Ohh thats BS

that shoulda been a Sweeney hit.

I never trusted that Esteban German

We should have kept him instead of Scutaro. Wait what am I saying?

I'm swooning anyways.
I will stop complaining about the black jerseys

because, you know… they look very good on Swooney

for ESteban?

Well, everybody has their own taste, I suppose…

Remember when Cust was good?

Seems like it was so long ago

No.
Wasn't it yesterday?
30 days or so, right?
in the right lineup

maybe even ours if healthy, i think he’d do much better. he’s not a .300 hitter by any means, and his protection is largely AAA’s

I don't think he'll be much better.

He may have better or worse years, but he’s not going to improve.

This is his Neifi month.

Wait till August….er Friday

Cust struck out. I wasn't expecting that.
KKKKKKKust
No it is

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKust

Nice to see a Buck on the field, of course he plays for KC
I don't want that Buck

Make my Buck the T-Buck. I want my Buck uncut.

Salomon Torres lost the game for the Brewers

against the Cubs tonight – I wonder if that might rekindle interest in Street, whose velocity was back up yesterday.

They have come this far on improving their team.

Might as well go “all-in”

do they have a singles hitter we can trade for?
Yeah. Jason Kendall.
Be still my heart
LOL...

I already saw that picture.

Interesting experiment to see if it’s Van Burkleo we should be hating….

I thought we agreed never to type that name again
I was also wondering about the Braves

They just lost Hudson and Chipper Jones, and so they’re waving the white flag and putting Teixeira on the market.

They have a SS prospect (23 years old) in Brandon Hicks who looks good to me, and who must be stuck behind Escobar. If the Braves are ready to rebuild/reload, given our minor league depth there might be a win-win deal to be made for both sides?

Who takes Crosby?
Trash Collector?
I fear we're stuck with Crosby...forever.
You're killing me Smalls...
yeah, yeah.
Foorrrreeeeeevvvvveeerrrrrrrr.....
forever now translates to longer than Walt Weiss :-(
Well it seems like forever anyway
You like Hicks better than Lillibridge?

Just coz Brent having a terrible year?

I just read Hicks' profile in Sickels and it impressed me a lot

“Scouts like his defensive ability, and he showed a strong bat in his pro debut. He controlled the strike zone particularly well, showed power, and in general had few problems adjusting to professional pitching. I like his K/BB/AB ratio…” Hit .313/.433/.492 last year in A ball.

We'll probably end up with more pitching.
Seems to me as if Hicks has to be expendable

with Escobar being so good and Lillibridge also in the mix. They have to like a swap of Hicks (if the A’s think he’s any good, I don’t know) for filling a need – be it pitching, or a position of weakness in their system.

If pitching who's the best pitching prospect you'd trade them?

Simmons?

Braden

But ONLY if they threw in Hudson.

You want to pay Hudson's contract while he recovers from TJ?
We're already paying - his name is Meyer
If the A's scouts believe Hicks is good,

I’d offer Simmons or Mazzaro.

That sounds realistic
Yaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnn
Casilla gets out of the inning

We still can’t hit :-(

Pinch hit for Crosby

Please!

Now you're just being silly
Who? RBI machine?
anybody

I can’t watch another one of his horrible AB’s

RBI machine AKA DFA
Greinke must've been salivating when he saw he was due to face the A's
He probably hasn't swallowed in three days
Bobby = 11 k's for Greinke
Don't be ridiculous.

That means Greinke would have to throw three pitches. Bobby won’t stand for that.

your right, I'm sorry
I've given up.
He drove that one deep to the edge of the infield
Crosby is back to being waaaaay off the plate.

Ty Van Burkleo needs to do his freaking job.

I noticed that too...

Still has that stance opened up but is way off the plate.

One of my pet peeves is when people blame the hitting coach

for the ineptitude of the hitters. Van Burkeleo is fine. Crosby SUCKS.

Normally, I would agree....

but has it possible that almost all our hitters consistently…...suck? It’s probably not Van Burkleo’s fault, but damn. Just damn.

It would be possible if Beane sucks at getting hitters
Beane has brought in sucessful

hitters. Kendall was good, until he got here. It’s vexing and strange.

He also was a massive collapse risk

And the Coliseum suppresses BA like heck. Probably the worst home park for him.

That's totally wrong, Nico. It's his job to prepare him and get him doing

things his way. Our pitchers have to throw off the edge of the rubber because that is what Curt Young wants.

What, walk out and interrupt the AB??

As much as it’s a “team” and you’re not supposed to come down on your teammates, I’ve heard Ty speak in a very negative way about Crosby. I was surprised. It wasn’t “diplomatic” in the least.

So, they’re both there together, day in and day out…Ty has to live with every comment and instruction, and every result.

Okay. Why don't our pitchers throw from the middle of the rubber?
Not blaming Ty, I'm just sating he needs to move closer to the plate

But I do agree, regardless he sucks and needs to be gone

BTW- I'm not asking Ty Van to improve our batting averages.

They are what they are… but the team should follow his philosophy and it ain’t “getting better in two strike counts” like Geren always says.

I agree

The coach in this instance can only do so much.
I’ve heard TvB speak on a couple of interviews, and I feel he knows his stuff.

The players have to execute. That’s it.

Nope. They should follow his approach and instruction.

That doesn’t necessarily translate to becoming a better hitter for average, but it in Crosby’s case, he doesn’t give himself a chance doing things his way.

Ty knows it

he even said, “Crosby’s standing about a million miles from the plate….”

And that’s for public consumption….

Well if he can't change him then maybe we need better leadership
No. We need a new SS.

Beane just called this one wrong. Like Long. He hasn’t missed on too many others.

I give Crosby 3 years after this one....

and he’ll be out of baseball.

Who'd want him in 2009?

He couldn’t even make the RockHounds

Ehh

this games over.

This game was over in the top of the first.

A’s baseball….It’s almost better than a stick in the eye.

OK you're busted!!

That comment

It’s almost better than a stick in the eye.

Okay, alox, WE ALL KNOW you’re with the A’s Marketing Dept!!

SPILL IT!!!

Any updates of Joey Devine?
4 runs in his inning of rehab work tonight
The worst part of this season is that we were competing

at a high level and rather than add a piece, we subtracted many pieces. I understand the rebuild mode but it sure sucks when you have to experience two completely different outcomes in the same season.

That was the best part of the season. This is the worst part of the season.
When Ellis, Hannahan and Crosby come up in an inning

Geren should just forfeit the inning to save time.

Poor Mark Ellis is simply awful at the plate. is that shoulder hurting him?

Official Concession of Game

Alan Embree in.

Oh great Embree
Embree coming in

Geren giving up

We're throwing in the towel now...

1st Casilla now Embree.

Casilla has non-towel potential
I wonder

could we trade Embree and Foulke for Black batting helmets to match these black jerseys?

I like Embree. He'll net us a draft pick.

I’d be willing to risk arbitration just to be able to list the reasons why he sucks

oh I hope

maybe some scout is watching right now ( praying for a K)

PLEASE !!!

I'll laugh if Gload homers here
I'll laugh harder if he doesn't
Sorry if you just busted your gut. That probably hurts.
It's a good pain
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Flashfire

Do you have pics from Friday night? :-)

Yeah, but I haven't had the chance to go through them much yet.

I don’t know if I’ll do that one first or yesterday’s.

No prob.

I’ll be patient.

Worth the wait, hopefully
They always are.

Your photos are very nice. Makes me want to buy a real camera.

Thanks

I just say that because it was the first time using a lens I rented to try at a night game. Some of it came out too dark but I think there’s some stuff I can work with.

And, real cameras are good!

Is it appropro...

that rehab commercials run during the breaks?

Ok this Brooks Conrad

experiment can end now.

But he just got a nickname
At least Patterson has drawn a few BB's
He seems to have very loopy swing, not looking good
Suzuki is turning into a nice player.

Had to say something positive.

Yay positivity!
Don't.

He’ll be traded if you do.

That Crosby's an all-star caliber SS. It's a crime he's never made it.

Stupid East Coast bias….

He's absolutely brilliant....

as a ballplayer and a human being. We’re fortunate to have him here in Oakland. I hope he never goes away. Ever.

What a perfect timing for Ryry to extend his hitting streak.
Of course Swisher had HR power in this type of AB.
Not when he was 23 he didn't.
I like Sweeney a lot BTW
He hit 31 HR for Sacto and Oakland that year
I wonder when the last time was they had two .300 hitters this late in the season?
Swooney doesn't have enough ABs to qualify
Okay, I'm almost getting interested again.

Do something, Sweeney!

Making Grienke work in the 8th.....

he shouldn’t even be in the 8th.

YAY hit for Swooney!

Can he be our new King?

Ryan means "little King"
What does "little king" mean?
Good Sweeney!

;-)

Nice hit!

I have my rally cap on

I’m glad it’s working (for now)

Woohoo!

Cmon Cust!

Dang - I wish we had 8 more Sweeneys coming up...

Make me regret that statement, CUSTY!!!

They are doing Cust a favor by taking Zack out

Now let’s see him take advantage of it

Jack, the just flashed your bobblehead on the screen

validate that, please

Also, the repeated camera time of the "Jack Attack"sign
Cust due for a HR
make that Kust
Don't strike out

Don’t hit into a double play, either.

Cust strikes out

without fail

ol’ faithful

Thanks, Sweeney.

No thanks, Cust.

that's what she said
Selective girl
That's a no brainer.
SRSLY.
Jack's self esteem is going to take a beating
Like I said

I’ll take 9 Sweeney’s over 9 Kusts any day in any situation.

His July is nothing short of embarrassing.

Bases clearing double, please
Bases clearing homerun, please
Well

you can’t always get what you want

a dichotomy of A’s fandom

But we're not getting what we need either
Did you try real hard?
Well I haven't had a cherry red soda yet, so I guess not
Were you at the demonstration?
Indeed, with Mr Jimmy
I would ask if you got your fair share of abuse....

But I know you were watching the game. Sort of redundant…isn’t it?

All right!

I just discovered I have a beer left in the back of the fridge!

Guess we'll have to sette for a should-have-been-double-but-instead-ground-out
Good thing Jack Cust is our best hitter ...

what a joke.

Another 3-strikeout performance for Cust
God Damnit!
God had nothing to do with it

Just “Damnit” should suffice

Incredible.
All that energy spent commenting in fanposts,

and all we had to do was wait for the game for the demonstration.

And just after Sweeney came through, as well.
Oh, but it doesn't matter what we see because certain stats prove otherwise.
Have to say it again. The Royals telecast said

“the Royals head west to take on Jack Cust and the A’s!”

They should show a blank head silhouette...
Of course,

the silhouette should be whiffing at strike three…..just to keep things accurate.

looking

at

No matter who they put in those things, I think "Wha? Don't we have anybody bigger than that?"

But then I think about it. Nope, no we don’t.

It ought to be, "If you don't see Brad Ziegler pitch, it's good news."
Ziggy the friendly ghost
It's like the second half last season....

exactly the same. It’s…..spooky.

I can't wait for nevermoor's commentary

on how Jack Cust is a really, really good player. And for everyone who insists that a strikeout is “just like any other out” ... there’s a prime example of how it isn’t.

You preferred Carlos's grounder to 1B?
Yup, at least he hit the damn ball ...

if Jack Cust hits the ball, we probably score a run.

If he had hit's Carlos's ball it would have been an out at home or a DP
Ok, Waddell, you win ... the strikeout -- again -- was fine.
I hope we get Adam Dunn. We'll have two Custs in the lineup
No, Adam Dunn is actually really good.

Cust, well, isn’t right now.

When we get him, all of AN will see how similar they are.
In some situations that gets a run home.
Just be glad he didn't GIDP there. Then the reaction would be, "See? See?? Should've struck out instead!"
A ground ball has a chance to get thru

also there is a small chance of an error.

With a K, that’s it.

The thing about the K’s swinging are that he is way overmatched. Cannot hit off speed or fastballs half the time.

When Cust strikes out, the air is let out of A's rallies

and yet, in an air vacuum environment you’d think it would be easier to hit.

Cust=2 RBIs

since the ASG….
and he’s batting 4th??!!!

Fire Geren now!

All courtesy of one swing
2 RBI probably leads the team
Brooks Conrad is 7-squared

Andrew Brown looks like he’s struggling with his release point again…in the bullpne!

The A’s need to obtain a Joaquim. They’ve been woefully under-Joaquimed in recent years.

Andujar's worn off?

Or do Joaquins not count?

Long time ago; we're overdue for another

Parenthetically, that was also the apex of Chris Berman’s nicknaming skill. It’s been agonizingly downhill since then.

The Rangers have Arias and Benoit.

We must close the Joaquin gap! The future of the American West hangs in the balance!

I love Joaquin Benoit's name

Because the first and last syllables are pronounced the same but spelled completely differently.

It's awesome, no question.
I seriously don't think I can watch another Crosby AB

without going absolutely crazy. He is our 3rd hitter due up in the 9th.

maybe we trade him before his AB
How I wish your name

was Geren at the moment.

You mean Mr. Positive?

I have only heard him get critical about a player once, when Daric fell on his head.

I've had all I can take. Good night everybody.

Hope I read a story tomorrow that talks about a 3 run homer from Crosby to win.

can't stop laughing
Then that means you will have

awoken in a cruel parallel universe.

Or you've slept for 23 years
Embree is bleeding hits again

someone get him some gauze

Dear Embree, please get out of this

Don’t kill your trade value.

O thank god DP!!!!!
Did Jack leave 1st early?
Looked like it

But you will usually get that call.

I bet the Royals wish he struck out right there
embree

lucked out

whew... Embree's trade value just skyrocketed!
He'll fix that tomorrow
Not if we hit his knee with a crowbar tonight
Tonya? Is that you?
"Why me?"

or “My knee!”

I never know which one of they two I’m saying.

New Embree sales pitch:

“Sometimes he doesn’t suck.”

9th inning!

Terrific! A meaningless game in July with the Royals. Let’s see some offense!

ha ha ha

Ellis: King of the lazy fucking flyball to deep infield.
Somebody has to cover for Chavez
No, just king of the lazy fly ball

He’s making his departure pretty easy to handle, though.

At least he didn't strike out

(not that it mattered here)

Ellis is busy signing his death warrant with the A's

They are not going to give him $5,000,000 per for his defense.

I wanted him to stay but the last month is cahnging my mind. He is not a good hitter at the moment or this season for that matter. Great on defense but we need offense

I referred to them as misdemeanor row....

My bad. That should have been infraction row.

Think they just get let off with a talking to?
well thats all folks
not so painful... tonight

actually, relieved to see that it didn’t come down to a heart-wrenching blown save by Huston in the 9th.

true

way to look at it positively

I just did a calculation

And based on all possible combinations, these are the worst 4 possible hitters to send up in the 9th inning. Any inning actually.

wheres Rajai?
Is he hidden in the picture?
he said 4 worst

i thought he would be included in the mix,

It's pretty impressive when you have 4 hitters arguably worse than Rajai
Yeah thats what I thought
Not even a tease tonight

Well, there was the 8th.

Oh well..

so much for Sweeping KC and getting back into Wild Card race.

keep dreamin'
Yes, they're not executing my plan to win 95 games
Technically....

I don’t think we can execute any of them. Trade them maybe. But that’s about it.

I think this is entirely possible...

...in 2008/2009.

I see. So they're spreading out over years, like Dixon's signing bonus
pretend the season ended in June
So this is spring training? I can't wait for the season to start!
That's the spirit!
division still more likely than wild card
Division?

As much as I would love to pull that off, I don’t think that is happening this year.

What are the odds of the Angels' charter

colliding with the Rangers’ charter in mid-air?

But you’re right – the chances of a mid-air collision among 6-7 wild card teams still has to be lower.

Hmmm....we need a really good air traffic controller to join AN

We need a green skirt and gold top
Yes, the Angels are a mirage.

Texas always wilts in August, except in ‘96, ‘98 and ‘99

If I was in charge of the computer in Vegas that did payouts on games

I would have pushed the payout sign before the inning started there with what we had coming up.

Just curious....

How many pitchers have had a career-high in strikeouts against the A’s this year? Chalk up another one tonight.

Ah, but Dallas Braden tied his career high while dominating the Royals
it is, no doubt, a record number already...

if not, it will be by the end of the season.

I can see it now

“Gil Meche career high in K’s tonight, a night after Greinke set a new career high”

With Cust

I’m tossing in the automatic three K’s.

Brian McRae said, "if Cust didn't swing as hard, he'd make better contact"
"Better" contact

how bout contact at all?

It made me laugh.

Clearly he doesn’t know our Jack very well.

He doesn't know Jack, period
Nice play on words
Conrad is good for a couple
as is Bobby - of course
and Patterson
van burkleo

add ten

Crosby actually doesn't strike out as much as you'd think

He just hits the ball very weakly.

which makes him better than Cust?
I'm not playing this game with you
Is the Patterson trial over yet?
You want to bring back Murton?
Nah...

Travis needs a few K’s this year.

We haven't tried Robnett yet.

I hear he’s a K’ing machine!

Man, Honestly I don't know.

Remember at the beginning of the year we had such a dilemma about having too many OF’s? Now we have 2 and the others all suck.

Yes.

He’s been found guilty of being an Oakland Athletic. No word on the penalty phase.

lifetime obscurity?
First he has to earn the

scorn and hatred of Oakland partisans. Then obscurity.

Maybe we could get Eithier back in a deal including LaRoche

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