For the first half of the season, the A's neither hit nor gave up many homeruns. In the second half, sans Eric Chavez and Frank Thomas the A's continue to find HRs hard to come by, but they are more oft reminded of the "power" homeruns can have on a game.
Mike Aviles' HR broke a 1-1 tie in the 6th off Greg Smith, who had been very sharp up to that point. The crushing blow was John Buck's 3-run bomb in the 7th. Two instant rallies, one crooked, plenty of ammo against an A's offense that would score 2 runs or fewer for the 37th time this week month season. Smith has now allowed four HRs in his last two starts, and A's pitchers have surrendered four HRs in the series, accounting for eight of the Royals' nine runs.
Positives? Mark Ellis hit the ball hard all evening. Eric Patterson's batting average didn't go down. (OK that's not so much a positive as it is a wistful snark.) He has looked good in LF, though. Sadly, Ellis really was the only highlight today, as around him was the occasional hit but at the end of the day no other A's player could say he was thrilled was his performance.
Here's a refrain we've heard all too often lately: The A's will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow. Enjoy your root beer float - right now, the ice cream is the only thing not sinking at the ol' ballyard.
0 recs | 158 comments
Yay
Root beer floats!
Boo, losing series to Royals.
Leopold Bloom - July 29, 2008
Boo, Boo!
Hate root beer floats and hate losing to the Royals.
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
Hate floats
A great Venture Brothers episode
Hating rootbeer floats is unamerican, tho…
oaklandSMASH - July 29, 2008
But is
Henching right for me?
Leopold Bloom - July 29, 2008
Sorry, but ugh!
lynnzgal - July 30, 2008
Sigh.
Honestly, I’m going to be upset if no deadline trades are made because I am SICK AND TIRED of seeing guys with no future run out there every day.
If they’re going out and losing 2/3, 3/4, or getting swept, fine, but do it because a bunch of young guys are taking their lumps. Don’t do it because a bunch of guys that aren’t MLB caliber continue to play. Yes, I’m looking at you Brooks Conrad, Jack Hannahan, Emil Brown, and even Crosby and Cust.
Blah. This team is great at putting me in a shitty mood.
mikev - July 29, 2008
Change and growth are long-term goals
and not likely to show their faces in the day-to-day activities. The team will rebound next season, I’ve no doubt, but this is why they call them growing pains (no Boner references, please). This is not fun, but pain is the touchstone to growth.
Leopold Bloom - July 29, 2008
I'm sure they'll rebound
and it’s likely because the like of Conrad, Hannahan, Brown, Davis, Bankston, Murphy, etc aren’t getting significant amount of starts.
There are way too many AAAA guys on the team. I’d rather have a team lose like Tampa last year. Sure, they don’t win a lot of games, but you knew they had a ton of upside because the guys playing were good prospects who were learning at the ML level, like Sweeney and Cargo are doing.
mikev - July 29, 2008
with you in that assessment
HRH - July 29, 2008
Gio's coming soon. Who else is there you'd like to see right now?
Meyer? Buck? Cunningham? Petit? All will likely be up in the next couple of months. Maybe Pennington too.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
It's been discussed in other threads, but I'd rather see Meyer given one last shot than Gio.
Gio’s clearly going to be given a chance to earn a rotation spot in ST. Meyer will either have to prove he’s a ML quality arm or he’ll be gone after this year.
I’d like to see Petit get a good amount of time as well, but they’re still in love with Crosby.
mikev - July 29, 2008
OK, how's this?
2B Patterson
RF Sweeney
C Suzuki
CF Gonzalez
DH Buck
LF Cunningham
1B Barton (after neck pain goes)
SS Petit
3B Pennington
Starters – Gallagher, Eveland, Smith, Gonzalez, Meyer
Bullpen – Street, Ziegler, Devine, Blevins, Casilla, Brown, Braden
Bench – Bowen, Bankston, Hannahan, Cust
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
I think Buck is better served in AAA right now
He doesn’t need to fail again in the bigs – let him master AAA first and regain confidence, or consciousness as the case may be. Play Cust because he may be part of the future – he’s cheap and OPSs .800, not to sneeze at until we have a lot of good hitters…at which point he might be really useful.
Nico - July 29, 2008
So, keep Davis or Frank then?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Frank - Patterson has made Rajai expendable, IMO
Nico - July 29, 2008
Would you re-sign Frank?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
For dirt cheap. Not for 10M again.
mikev - July 29, 2008
Only if Chavez doesn't look like a DH in 2009
If Chavy looks like he’ll play in the field or not at all in 2009, then I’d consider bringing Thomas back on another affordable one-year deal.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Hmmm...but we likely won't know that till spring training, no?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
They could do like they did with Mike Sweeney -
a Spring Training invite. But I suspect the A’s will know pretty soon what is possible to expect from Chavez, especially if it’s either extreme.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Yes a minor league contract would be great
if Frank would go for it.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
He'll be 40, coming off an injury
Options may not abound.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Retirement is an option
Where does he live? Close to California or close to Alabama, or Chicago?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Las Vegas
Nico - July 29, 2008
Good. So Oakland makes sense for him.
NRI it is!
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
I think Patterson is better served, like, anywhere but the majors
I’d much much much rather see Buck (or Putnam, Cunningham, Murton, Denorfia, etc.) playing the outfield than Patterson. I just don’t think the guy will ever be a quality major leaguer.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
I'm still really puzzled at the apparent misuse of Murton.
Why bother aquiring him, in that case?
mikev - July 30, 2008
Well, I'd rather have a Laroche or Stewart at 3B...
and I notice that you have a lack of Duke in your proposed rotation…
mikev - July 29, 2008
Ya, but I don't want to assume what we're getting back for him
I also omitted Crosby and Ellis. Basically anyone who’s not part of next year’s team. I guess Duke could be, but I’m not expecting it.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Also Crosby could be.....but I'm an optimist
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Well, barring a trade, Duke and Crosby are both part of the team in 2009.
Chavez, too, possibly.
mikev - July 29, 2008
Yes but Chavez isn't an option now
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Oh I thought you were mocking up a 2009 lineup.
mikev - July 29, 2008
I think it's the other team that mocks it
Nico - July 29, 2008
I was responding to your post wanting to lose like TB last year
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
oh, got it.
Yeah, I mean not 100% exactly the same way—we know that Crosby isn’t getting benched, Brown is going to keep being given starts (why the hell was Murton aquired?), Hannahan is gonna play, etc.
It’s just annoying.
mikev - July 29, 2008
Yes and I'm doing something about it.
Start with banishing Crosby. Trade him to Italy.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
I'm fine with Los Angeles.
They like gritty veterans.
mikev - July 29, 2008
But even they don't seem to like our Bob
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Then they can just weave.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Or sing "On top of old smoky"
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
If we keep Duke, I guess I'd send Braden down till Sep 1
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
And we've been
pretty lucky so far.
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
+1
No more Hannahan/Brooks/Email/Bankston/Davis/Crosby… more Buck/Barton/Pennington/Gio maybe even Cunningham.
Syphon - July 29, 2008
I have to agree - lose with guys who can help you win later
by playing and getting better, not with guys holding the spot for players who aren’t even in our organization yet.
Nico - July 29, 2008
I wouldn't put Bankston in with those others.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
I dunno he sure looks like AAAA
Syphon - July 29, 2008
You added an extra A
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Wasnt by mistake :)
Syphon - July 29, 2008
He does, but he's also only 24.
Eric Patterson looks a lot more like an AAAA player and he’s older
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
Why not?
He’s not very good.
mikev - July 29, 2008
He's younger than those other guys. And he can hit in AAA.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
So can Donnie Murphy (2 HRs in a game this week, IIRC)
Nico - July 29, 2008
But he's old. And Bankston's only made 42 outs. Murphy's made 82 this year.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
And Patterson has only made 10!!!
Nico - July 29, 2008
So we owe Bankston 40 outs and Patterson 72 before we relegate them
to Murphy status
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Murphy is like 29 days older than Patterson
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
Isn't that kinda the definiton of a 4A guy?
Hits AAA, can’t hit MLB?
mikev - July 29, 2008
Well if he can't hit AAA then I'd call him a AA guy.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Which brings us back to Hannahan
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
He can hit anyone that throws less than 85 mph -- in any league
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
I was referring to his demons
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
Ah. I'm dense.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Thanks for adding the "mph"
At first I wasn’t sure you meant “mph” or “proof”.
Nico - July 29, 2008
85 proof is mighty strong drink. Mighty strong.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
"Make you shiver for a moment" strong, or
“face down on the neighbor’s lawn” strong?
Nico - July 29, 2008
I don't remember once falling down in my neighbor's lawn.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Generally, it's only the neighbors who remember
Nico - July 29, 2008
Well I remember waking up...and more than once
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Agreed!
Cut ties with Conrad, Hannahan, Brown and Cust. Trade them or DFA, bring up more young guys. Enough already!
A'sfansince1970 - July 29, 2008
Yes, Please
Half this team is not the future. Get rid of garbage starting with Crosby. My Grandmother could perform better and she’s been dead for decades
Trainman - July 29, 2008
don't forget Foulke & Embree
HRH - July 29, 2008
LOL
If we ever forget them, we sure as hell remember when someone tells us they are warming up ready to come into the game.
It would be great if we could wave the magic wand and have Anaheim trade for all our rejects. Someone needs to spike Tony Reagan’s drink and have him call Billy.
Trainman - July 29, 2008
Hannahan and Cust aren't completely useless
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Hannahan isn't useless, but he also isn't the future
He’s “filler”.
Nico - July 29, 2008
He could be next year's utility guy
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
That would be a good sign. But I think Patterson
is a more useful version of the concept, as he runs better, plays INF and OF, and presumably can hit better than Hannahan.
Nico - July 29, 2008
But he's our likely 2B
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
That's what you think
It’s not what I think.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Other options?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Ellis.
Given the payroll flexibility, they actually could kick the tires on Orlando Hudson, though I expect he’ll be too pricey. More likely, if they lose Ellis I think they’ll find a one-year stopgap a la Hannahan, E. Brown. Basically, “filler”.
Nico - July 29, 2008
So Patterson?
mikev - July 29, 2008
I was thinking more a veteran
A Randy Velarde type pickup – someone with 1-2 years left in his career as a decent 2Bman.
Nico - July 29, 2008
So Conrad?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Conrad BAIN has a better chance of hitting .200
Nico - July 29, 2008
I always liked Conrad Janis more than Bain
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Hannahan is approaching the "useless" line pretty quickly.
A corner infielder with a shitty OBP and no pop in his bat?
mikev - July 29, 2008
Who gets blown away by fastballs
Most every time when a pitcher decides they need a K
Trainman - July 29, 2008
His defense is among the best in the league according to THT though
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Really? Because I'd put him in there among the 10 worst 3B
If not 5 worst. He has a terrible arm and if it’s not, like, right at him he’s not catching it.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
Should add that he's been better recently
But the first two months of the season were pretty terrible.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
We've had this discussion before
Someone points out that Hannahan is good defensively, you indignantly assert he isn’t, stats demonstrating that he is are cited.
Look, his glove doesn’t come close to making up for his bat but there’s no point in denying reality just because it doesn’t fit your preconceived notions. The guy has, frankly, been covering Crosby’s ass all season long.
PaulThomas - July 30, 2008
August and September aren't here yet
but soon, and the schedule is brutal for the A’s.
Geren has his work cut out for him, attempting to get some wins out of this group.
One won lost won - July 29, 2008
His job right now isn't to get wins though
His job is to get playing time for the guys who are the future of the team.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
I strongly disagree
I feel that the job of any MLB manager is to get a win that day, any game day. Whether it involves good planning looking ahead, or good hindsight evaluating what happened yesterday or last month, it all should work toward winning today. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow never comes.
But that is my opinion, and I’m certain the debate is not worth pursuing.
One won lost won - July 30, 2008
Managers who do everything possible to win each and every game aren't managers for long
It’s not a 5 game season. You can’t manage like every game is your last, or you’ll be, well, Dusty Baker and have young pitchers throwing 130 pitches just so you can win some relatively meaningless May game.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
The only thing I can say is
“Bring your life rafts tomorrow!!!!!!”
things could get kinda sticky…..!!!!
mrod - July 29, 2008
I am listening to an Mrod on Robert Buan show
is that the one and only?
Trainman - July 29, 2008
That has to be you
Keep Duke, he says
Trainman - July 29, 2008
Yes my comrades.....
it was me that said “Keep Duke in Oakland to anchor the rotation for the next 3 years!”........
Thanks for listening friends…...
mrod - July 29, 2008
Greg Smith should
walk every batter he faces and pick them off
Oklnd Fan - July 29, 2008
He should have picked John Buck off after he hit the HR
The guy was trapped halfway between second and third at one point.
Nico - July 29, 2008
For all those going tomorrow
remember it’s Food Bank Wednesday—bring two non-perishable food items and get a free ticket to an upcoming game. Nom nom nom!
Englishmajor - July 29, 2008
Additionally, please bring some perishables
and give them to Jerry Blevins!
Nico - July 29, 2008
Oh Nico!
Haha! Yes, He needs a sandwich! Or two.
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
Awesome deal
Two cans get you a plaza ticket to your choice of like 10 or so remaining weeknight games (voucher redemption required). I’ve secured four ticketds already and may well go back for more. Win-win if there ever was one.
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
They should pay us to watch this s--t
oaklandSMASH - July 29, 2008
ha, ha...
my feelings exactly, QFTM
little A - July 30, 2008
oops i mean QOTM...
..i’m so beside myself rite now due to the state of our team
little A - July 30, 2008
You're gonna get awfully tired of writing this same wrap over and over
No disrespect intended…I sure couldn’t do it. I just remember how grim the wraps got towards the end last season, and with this squad looking like it could legitimately play .400 ball the rest of the way, it’s gonna be tough sledding for all A’s fans. Maybe most so for those who have to write about it.
Speaking of which…don’t see bbg around here so much anymore. She was the writer I worried about most during last year’s bleakness.
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
She tried to end it all by asking Crosby and Cust
to put a sword through her heart – but Crosby missed and Cust just stood there.
Nico - July 29, 2008
Hee hee
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
No.
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
QOTM
FoolshGame22 - July 29, 2008
another good one!
little A - July 30, 2008
I'm here!
I have been SUPREMELY busy lately, but I’ll be doing the recap tomorrow. Happy, I promise!
baseballgirl - July 29, 2008
OK, you're gonna do your part
so now it’s up to the A’s to do theirs.
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
Oh, sure, do a recap on an off day
That way they can’t possibly lose.
Have fun recapping Duke’s trade to __.
thejd44 - July 30, 2008
THE CARDINALS FOR PUJOLS!!!!
oh… what?
mikev - July 30, 2008
Kind of unfortunate that root beer float day is during...
The middle of the week.
One of the first A’s games I went to in person was a float day, and I would have gladly made the drive again if it were on a weekend. Would have been fun for the little sister too, but que sera sera.
RenoTy - July 29, 2008
I'm thinking of
Playing hooky. Even though I don’t like RFB’s. I miss it so much!
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
Or RBF's'
Sorry, tared.
lynnzgal - July 29, 2008
In a twist of irony
I think the recipients of the floats is a center for diabetes. Hmm…perhaps a non-sugar option would be good too?
baseballgirl - July 29, 2008
So the "3-legged sack race for amputees" promotion is no good, then?
Nico - July 29, 2008
The "one-legged men butt-kicking contest" is probably dashed also.
oaklandSMASH - July 30, 2008
Why do you want to kick the butts of one legged men?
Are they related to the one armed man?
5Aces - July 30, 2008
You find that man!
You find that man!
(we can’t find the guy….)
Leopold Bloom - July 30, 2008
It's always on a weekday afternoon
They get an enormous kid turnout…little league teams, summer campers, etc.
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
yeah, i'll bet all the enormous kids turn out for RBFs ...
monkeyball - July 30, 2008
You know, I'm sure hoping
that whoever thought the team was tanking because they are trying to get traded to contenders was right.
If he was, we might actually only have to put up with one more game of this sh**.
PaulThomas - July 29, 2008
Huston Street says, "There are some very serious blogs out there"
In response to the fact he thought he might have been traded to Milwaukee last week or whenever it was.
Trainman - July 29, 2008
What does he mean by "serious blogs"?
Blogs that don’t weave beastiality into their every day discussions?
Nico - July 29, 2008
LOL
He thinks when people type stuff about players on a blog and it is an opinion of the blogger then the blogger should state that it is their opinion and not a fact.
Trainman - July 29, 2008
So when I type "Crosby sucks"
I should clarify that it’s a fact?
Nico - July 29, 2008
Huston already knows that so no clarification needed
Trainman - July 29, 2008
Clarify that Crosby is
not an alien but he swings like one….........
just sayin…..
mrod - July 29, 2008
He is referring to blogs
that have been falsely accused of working with lord Voldemort in attempting to kill Harry Potter and his parents.
5Aces - July 30, 2008
Or blogs that are about to merge with xM blogs to create one giant overpriced monopoly blog?
Englishmajor - July 30, 2008
Everywhere you click, you land on a hotel!
Nico - July 30, 2008
Jeez this team has turned into the Giants after the break...
why don’t they just have their games there too? Maybe some people will go to the game.
Oaktownflav - July 29, 2008
Turning 21 next Mon
I always wondered what it’s like having Wine at the game…
Hit4TheCycle - July 29, 2008
Drink a gallon of it and you will find out
Maybe you can have a few too many and then walk into the A’s clubhouse and make sure Crosby and Embree (for starters) are not on the team anymore
Trainman - July 29, 2008
It's like being at Candlestick
on any of eight or so genteel Sunday afternoons in the fall.
FreeSeatUpgrade - July 29, 2008
Do you not like beer?
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
Nothing wrong with beer
The Fri of that week I was going to So Cal to take my sister to UCLA. Going to drop in on that Yanks Angels series and try a value Artie Moreno beer.
Hit4TheCycle - July 29, 2008
I highly recommend beer at a game.
OK, not only at a game.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
MORE BEER NOW!!!
DCinWC - July 30, 2008
But also in the East side parking lot!
Go A’s!
mrod - July 29, 2008
We're 53-53 now. That's disappointing.
WaddellCanseco - July 29, 2008
oh what a difference a division makes...
the Dodgers are 53-53 and in 2nd place in the NL West… one game back of the division leading Dbacks, who have a better record than the A’s only because they happened to be playing a division rival and won.
Just think, our A’s could be in 2nd place and one game out! Actually, we’d probably be 10 games up on everyone in that division, because regardless of how crappy we are… they are crappy squared.
FoolshGame22 - July 29, 2008
Like, you're totally making Giants fans
like, totally pissed, man!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>
mrod - July 29, 2008
Hello .500!
I hope we see you again sometime before 2009…..
jubjub - July 30, 2008
Will the Yankee's be looking for a 1st baseman
next year? I believe Giambi’s contract is up after 08, although if I recall correctly, there’s a club option.
Point being, wouldn’t it be nice if the Yankee’s signed Tex away from the Angles?
alox - July 30, 2008
That would be nice to see!
MMunoz33 - July 30, 2008
Bobby "The Boob" Crosby
Time to cut ties and just DFA him because it’s time for the A’s to take out the trash and it starts with sending a message to these worthless bums…. that everyone is interviewing for a job in 2009, and “The Boob” is not in our plans!!
Crosby approval ratting: 7%
MMunoz33 - July 30, 2008
DFA Bobby "The Boob" Crosby.com!!!!
MMunoz33 - July 30, 2008
7 percent is a little high
Trainman - July 30, 2008
No, she's just enthusiastic.
oblique - July 30, 2008
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