Athletics Nation

maybe wait until after the game or at least the inning for the positives just so you don't jinx us

good points

We still lost, but we didn’t totally suck this time.

iglew - August 1, 2008 reply

And don't forget one more:

Big Frank is back!!

I love that guy!

iglew - August 1, 2008 reply

Hi!

Do you have to get your optimism on me?

Fuck.

Kimberly - August 1, 2008 reply

figures

OH SHIT.

pam5981 - August 1, 2008 reply

It looks like someone colored a hat on Bay

for his gameday photo.

They always do

for midseason trades. Look at Harden and Blanton, Gallagher, et al

chuckcheeze - August 1, 2008 reply

K

5Aces - August 1, 2008 reply

click

no click...?

Leopold Bloom - August 1, 2008 reply

nah, Vince's call spooked me.

I thought it was gone

same here

UncleLeo - August 1, 2008 reply

me too

gigglingone - August 1, 2008 reply

and it was up there so long I thought he may try for home even once I realized it was still in the park.

5Aces - August 1, 2008 reply

lucky for me my usual cat like reflexes

are dulled by this head cold, otherwise I would have logged off

Vince's call on Suzuki's foul ball

earlier in the game was one of the worst convolutions I’ve ever heard on a foul ball call.

One won lost won - August 1, 2008 reply

did you feel that too?

i KNEW we had something between us

oakinboston - August 1, 2008 reply

Is that what you were feeling?

SHIT!

justarebelheart - August 1, 2008 reply

Manny was Better - he would have homered

sigh

UncleLeo - August 1, 2008 reply

DANGER! DANGER!

I do not like intentional walks

justarebelheart - August 1, 2008 reply

Over

fuck

gigglingone - August 1, 2008 reply

duuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

damn.

Leopold Bloom - August 1, 2008 reply

Gosh!

lynnzgal - August 1, 2008 reply

Urgh! Crosby! No!

RenoTy - August 1, 2008 reply

So Hard

to take.

lynnzgal - August 1, 2008 reply

Bobby Crosby is unbelievably worthless

if he were on the giants, he's be a gamer

LOL

UncleLeo - August 1, 2008 reply

~~Bobby Crosby~~ Alan Embree is unbelievably worthless

there fixed it for you

MrIncognito - August 1, 2008 reply

UGLY

:(

Silly me got my hopes up again

Feeba - August 1, 2008 reply

oh fuck

pam5981 - August 1, 2008 reply

click ah roo!

at least we have room for improvement!

Well, it could not happen

to a more deserving Embree

One won lost won - August 1, 2008 reply

AKDFHKHASKDHSKADHKJBCMbckheiry

justarebelheart - August 1, 2008 reply

you gotta be shttn me ....double clutcher

Why do we keep Embree around?

I don’t even understand.

schmifty - August 1, 2008 reply

We need someone around to make Huston look decent.

Crap.

tough loss

I hope you post your pix. Have fun

LongTimeFan - August 1, 2008 reply

this is so bad, I posted to Kimberly

LongTimeFan - August 1, 2008 reply

Well, I'm glad I'm gonna be in Yosemite for the next couple of days.

No A’s baseball to ruin another one of my weekends.

Kimberly - August 1, 2008 reply

and no portable radios

A’s game and cliffs not a good mix this year.

Let's go padres!!!

durrr ive never played shortstop in my life durrrrrrrrrrrr

emar24 - August 1, 2008 reply

What did Bobby Crosby do on that last play?!

Or didn't do?

Rushed, choked, double-clutched, threw late (and badly)

It’s remarkably how bad a baseball player he is – fundamentally he does just about everything wrong. One of those players you can always count on to do “the little things to help you lose”.

I hope they just part ways with him. Don't care what they get in return.

I think he is my least favorite baseball player EVER.

I like him

I truly hope that you are joking.

If not, whooaa, I don’t even know what to say.

he's tops

Before the season started most people outside of Oakland thought the A's would be a cellar team...

By May we were laughing in there faces, but by now it really does seem like the A’s are simply a AAAA team at best, comparable to Seattle…

Its a bummer, and hard to be positive about…

their*

it is painful to watch

butler19 - August 1, 2008 reply

I don't want to start an argument

But how was anything about that play fundamental? It was a a slow high hopper straight behind second. Very difficult play. The double clutch was the only thing he choked on and I’d argue that even with a clean transfer the runner would have been safe. Because it was a slow bouncer behind second.

chuckcheeze - August 1, 2008 reply

He rushed every aspect - if he just focuses on

making the pickup and throw he gets Lowrie by a step. Ellis always knows how much time he has; Crosby got caught up in “I have to make this play” instead of just making the play. Again, not a “routine play” but one major leaguers have to make – especially if they OPS under .700.

I'll give you that argument for sure

chuckcheeze - August 1, 2008 reply

just like tom cruise in The Last Sumarai

with them fighting sticks

Couldn't get the ball out of his glove

jax a's fan - August 1, 2008 reply

It wasn't quite a "routine play"

but it was a play that good players routinely make.

I agree

butler19 - August 1, 2008 reply

Crosby "routinely" blows "goat c%$&!"

Nothing against goats Nico......

the a's need a corporate drum circle!

I second this idea

Bad

LongTimeFan - August 1, 2008 reply

How do thee A's hurt me?

Let me count the ways…

DFA THIS WHOLE TEAM

OR JUST THE 3 STOOGES EMBREE/CROSBY/STREET

Asfan4ever723 - August 1, 2008 reply

I hate Crosby with a passion

His last at bat is enough reason for him to be run over by a steamroller.

He cannot field either and is totally worthless.

There was never a doubt that with Embree in that it was a loss but Crosby needs to find a way to be gone.

If it’s the DL then find a way to get there. I’m done with this stiff.

How Beane can think this guy is a good player and keep a straight face is beyond me.

You're surprised?

This team is terrible. They’re not going to beat the Red Sox. If they can’t beat the Royals at home, they sure as hell ain’t beating the Sox in Fenway. Drop the next two and move on to next week.

Coach Cleats - August 1, 2008 reply

Not surprised didn't expect win just expect Crosby do something except suck

Beane owes it to the fans to put the new guys on the field and not have this embarrassing garbage out there

And that starts with Petit and Crosby benched. No one wants him anyway.

at least crosby's offense is grand

i mean at least crosby’s offense is grandly offensive

let's go warriors!

I'm excited for the Sharks

and their annual second-round exit.

buddahead9 - August 1, 2008 reply

Its just kind of depressing how horrible our offense is... I mean, our pitching is still pretty impressive, but our offensive is so bad it makes the games not really fun to watch any more...

I feel like the A’s are the alter ego of the Rangers…

it was great to be able to see the team on TV

even if the NESN announcers spent over two innings discussing Manny (even putting the camera on the announcers instead of the game).

Good pitching overall - precious little hitting - what the hell did Crosby do on that game ending play?

OaklandSi - August 1, 2008 reply

CHOKE, fubarred, fist fulla thumbs.

Manny Ramirez first at bat for Dodgers about to happen now

I may un-click and listen Buan....for the rant calls

Thanks for the thread NICO

Does NotSomethingJeans stop watching after nine?

Pucking Insane - August 1, 2008 reply

Might be his bed time - not sure :-)

I agree, it's Nico's fault

NSJ must be smarter than collective AN.

AN was down.

He might’ve gave up trying.

Rangers just scored 3

off BJ Ryan in the 9th. That team would be a monster if they just got average pitching

jax a's fan - August 1, 2008 reply

so would the A's if they had average hitting.

true

jax a's fan - August 1, 2008 reply

I'm fine with the "painful" part of rebuilding

but it’s upsetting to see that the team has no 3Bman, continues to (evidently) fool itself into thinking it has a SS – one who is terrible offensively and is getting noticeably worse defensively – and has no power. This team is not close, and after dealing so many key players, it SHOULD be, IMO.

Are you saying that Murton and Patterson for Harden and Gaudin was a bad trade? Come on, that's just ridiculous.

Exactly Nico

I was reading your post as I was typing mine below.

This team is 2 years away from contending and 3rd base and SS are the main reason

well... besides first base, left field, 2 starters, and a closer

I honestly don't know what to say/think about this team.

There are so many missing parts but I could see them contending in ‘09. Of course, I’m assuming Chavy returns to 3B, anyone else besides Crosby plays average SS, Ellis rebounds offensively at 2B and Barton won’t likely be this bad a year from now. The pitching could be pretty good next year and I like 2/3 of our OF. Suzuki has been a pleasant surprise too IMO.

We have to get a big bat next year or even a couple of average bats that don’t go constantly go on the DL. Two good hitters (Thomas & Sweeney) are injured simultaneously and I assume that having both guys was a mini-insurance policy. If one of them could have stayed healthy who knows how much better our offense could have been. Point is… I’m still tired of gambling on unhealthy players that have a proven track record of being injured.

Well, calling this all a function of SS and 3B is definitely wrong

Plenty of teams have a hole at SS, etc.

The problem is that they usually have superior players somewhere.
we’re not getting above average production anywhere.

ohmangoAs - August 1, 2008 reply

Yes, but at least the A's have players at other positions

who could become solutions if they play – Sweeney, Gonzalez, Suzuki, Barton, soon Cunningham. But if this is the future of the left side of the infield, then…

How does BB not strike gold on ONE power-hitter in the last 5 years?

We are either unlucky or trying to be too cute when we draft players. Weeks at #13 was the laughing stock of the draft to go along with Jeremy Brown and several others.

Beats me man

go figure…........

Well we were also one pick away from Smoak:

Again!!!!!!!!

I'm not looking for 30/100 from each of the guys on the left

side of the infield but we need more production than we’re getting. A lot more. The A’s were blessed to have Tejada and Chavez plus Giambi but those expectations have long since left Oakland. We just need something better than we currently have and the team will go nowhere if this is the future.

2009 would look quite a bit better if there were 8 or 9 current members on

other rosters to start next year because if they are here then we are in deep shit.

I don’t need to mention them, you all know who they are.

I am hoping like hell that some of our better prospects are ready for ST next year.

Obviously some of the young pitchers are a couple of years away but let’s at least have some other players in there like Petit etc who can play

Enough of watching Crosby. No power, no talent no nothing. Just a liability

Well be sides Crosby's brainfreeze on that last play:

Why did Geren elect to walk Drew? He had good career #s against him and the next batter was right handed..!!!!!!!!!

I’m not even pissed at this point…..just wondering why Geren made that move???

I think it was the right call -

Drew is just a very accomplished hitter and Lowrie’s a rookie. I would have opted for Lowrie.

That was the right move

Embree being on the roster is and was the wrong move. Geren had no choice to use Embree though

Well I guess

Embree was doomed to lose this game anyway, right?

Meh…....

At least the rest of the bullpen showed up

still, another painful loss….....

I’ll say this:

So glad
I did not re-new my season tix this year….....

..............fucking lousy product~

(At least on the offensive side!)

You know Mrod

I wouldn’t pay to watch them in their current state. We are diehard A’s fans and normally I would go to every game if I lived in Northern Cal but what is being put on the field is an insult to the fans. We know they are rebuilding and it is exciting to see the talent in the minors but there is so much garbage on the ML team that I wouldn’t pay a dime to watch this shit day in and day out.

I tune in everyday hoping for a win. It does not sting as much when we lose because we know we are well out of it but what does sting is the crap that masquerades for a team as it is currently assembled.

I would bet there are 10 SS’s who could outperform Crosby. And like Nico and others have said, Beane has made no attempt to address 3rd base because the organization thought Chavy was it and no need to draft anyone in case of injury.

Exactly my friend

WTF??????

No offensive help in sight as far as the left side of the field goes…....

This loss means nothing to me anymore...

Might as well go hibernate or something. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oaktownflav - August 1, 2008 reply

Look positive!

Raiders’ football is just around the corner!

gregorymark - August 1, 2008 reply

Go Niners!

Anyone know if JaMarcus Russell can hit?

He would demand too much money from the A's...

Oh, for shit's sake.

I had great seats for that, too.

salb918 - August 1, 2008 reply

Looked for you at the game. Nebraska from thepastime is in town too

according to sprtsnwyn. Tough game to attend.

We need

Leadoff hitter

3rd baseman

SS (Petit is good enough for me and should be playing see grade for next season)

Closer

2 more starters (1 to replace Eveland and 1 to replace Braden)

And we will contend.

Just deal with it

What did all of you think? This is the offense we brought into the season, more or less. Anybody who looked at it objectively knew it would be bad. They pitched and played way over their heads for three months. But it couldn’t continue. Give Beane some credit for knowing that and making trades.

If you’re going to bank on the future and all the prospects that sort of means waiting for that future. All the pitching, the everyday prospects (there are a few), the guys who still have some growing up to do (Buck, Barton, Cargon)—it’s not going to happen overnight.

So now you’re stuck with Brown and Cust and Crosby and Ellis and the rest. That’s the way it is. Try to enjoy a competitive game and move on. They aren’t playing for anything anyway—not this year.

And, my god, enough with the Bobby Crosby hatred. As shortstops go, he’s probably middle of the pack this year. The team’s problems are far beyond Crosby. Nico’s hate for him on this thread is almost pathological.

RLangford - August 1, 2008 reply

Crosby isn't middle of the pack.

He’s bad.

mikev - August 1, 2008 reply

4 homers is a joke

I like Crosby as much as I like K-Rod

That should tell you what I think of Crosby.

I would love to ask BB, why do you think this guy is a good player and see if he kept a straight face when he answered.

I don't think he is in love with Crosby. He just believes that Crosby is the best

option we have at the moment. I think that’s true NOW but that doesn’t fit into my idea of rebuilding. Give someone else an opportunity so they can be ready by the time the rest of our team starts taking shape.

I don't even care about the homers.

He’s an awful hitter. Even with the apparent shift in MLB from the offensive powerhouse shortstops in the A-Rod/Nomar/Tejada role, Crosby is a bad hitter. Normally that’s okay, if teh shortstop is a plus plus defender (Adam Kennedy).

Crosby is not a plus plus defender.

mikev - August 1, 2008 reply

I only bring up the homers because he has the "potential" to hit them.

His approach at the plate wouldn’t cut it with most disciplined high school coaches. I just wish he would give himself a chance to be a better hitter but the 5-cent head is getting in the way.

Heck I would forgive the .251 average if any of his other offensive stats looked promising. Watching him get outsmarted at the plate is sooooo painful.