Athletics Nation

today

there’s still tomorrow, the day after tomorrow… you can see where this one is going

asfansince1989 - August 4, 2008 reply

no, we're just sitting, saying nothing

What else is there? All a lot of nothing.

IM A LNG TYME FAN!!! AND I AM PISSED

I thought Meyer looked pretty good in the 4th

He tends to slow the arm down and tip the changeup, and leave it up a bit. Other than that, he’s showing a decent fastball, good slider, and looking far better than he did last year. It does look (to me) like he’s holding back. I’d like to see him in “f—it” mode just letting loose, and see what happens.

It was like night and day seeing a pitcher

who could hit the zone after Gallagher tonight too.

Tyler Bleszinski - August 4, 2008 reply

Gallagher's release point is not consistent

I have a feeling a “small” tweak in his mechanics could make a huge difference.

Young will get it straight

I agree. I can handle Gallagher's struggles

because it’s rebuilding pains the way it’s supposed to be: 22 year old pitcher, has what it takes, will be inconsistent while he’s figuring it out…It’s all good, compared to watching Hannahan, and Crosby, and E. Brown futz their way through.

I don't like this game

But I can’t bring myself to turn it off.

day-to-day - August 4, 2008 reply

I'll repeat it again...

Beane needs to revert to 02’ form and have Menechino Menechino, Tam, Pena, Jeremy Giambi kinda shakeup (looks at Hannahan, Barton, DFA, Crosby….. This AAAA lineup is just unbearable….I’m surprised Beane has such a high tolerance lately….

maybe he is not watching

yeah soccer games are pretty long

2.5 hours...

at least the Earthquake won sunday!!!

How did a 90 minute + 15 minute half last 2.5 hours?

i dunno it started at noon and was over 2:30-ish

soccer is so unamerican

I shouldn't be either...

this is much worse then daily work…. :X

He did that in May when there was time to get back in the race

This is a different situation.

Hannahan's been one of the "better" hitters

during this slide… stat-wise.

that's not saying too much

...yes i know hence your ””......... :(

should give 'em all the Bradley treatment

asfansince1989 - August 4, 2008 reply

I wonder if he still has the

“Bradley chair” to showcase around ;)

Yes, that chair has been retired

DFA'd?

Or traded for CTBNL?

i'll say DFA'd

What's the story behind that? I missed it

We have THREE hits!

Put it on the board… yessss.

whiteshoes40 - August 4, 2008 reply

MaEL has a hit today

Extending his hitting streak, on his way to 57 games, to close out the season!!

It’s going to perplex ESPN, as Ellis will hit in 57 straight games, yet end up with a .259 BA!!

How can you put an image of a .259 hitter up there with “Joltin’ Joe”??!!

Lalalalala...

Kimberly - August 4, 2008 reply

BTW, Saarloos pitched Sunday,

so I think it’s pretty much guaranteed to be Gio on Thursday.

I'm glad to hear that

SoCalA'sFan - August 4, 2008 reply

I think we have a six-man free-for-all for the final four rotation spots in '09

Duke, and then

Gio/Braden/Eveland/Smith/Gallagher/Meyer.

Assuming Duke isn’t traded.

I'd add Simmons to that list,

but I think Duke, Gallagher, and Smith are pretty much assured, with the rest fighting for the last two spots.

5 men enter, 2 men leave

welcome to prospect AAAA THUNDERDOME!!!

5Aces - August 4, 2008 reply

That's only until Brett/Trevor/James/Vince/Josh join the fray.

Reminds me about the Cubs

Didn’t they try an experiment in the 1950s, where each pitcher threw ONE INNING??!!

So, theoretically, nine pitchers throwing one inning, just about every day.

Intriguing….Geren might be tempted.

"Tempted" or "Forced"?

I know the Cub manager was forced by the GM

The Cubs also tried “no manager, all coaches”.

Meyer and Gallagher got more Ks than Halladay,

it’s the BBs and HBPs that’s difference

you are correct

Wow, that rotation looks to really suck

yeah, I'm trying to figure out what year Beane is building towards because it's not next yer.

Erin6 - August 4, 2008 reply

Look at a calendar and...

...add two. Works anytime.

UncleLeo - August 4, 2008 reply

But...they'll help contribute to us getting a top-10 draft pick!

We're 11th now

I'm talking about after next season.

We're going to be even worse in 2009?

Yes

Well, maybe about the same

But we won’t look like a playoff team on paper, that’s for sure.

I think the window starts in ‘10. Lackey and Vlad are FAs then. Plus our prospects are in the bigs by then.

They're in the bigs now.

A few are...

but the rest of system is arguably the best in baseball. I’m talking about when that group is in the bigs.

By 2010, we might see Cahill, Anderson, Gio,

Cunningham, and even Carter – none of whom we’ve yet seen – plus possibly Doolittle (if he makes it). That’s a lot still to come.

Who of the touted guys we have seen, are you impressed with?

Carlos?
Eveland?
Smith wasn’t really touted
Ryan wasn’t either
Gallagher?
Barton?
Suzuki?

For me, it's, in about this order,

Gonzalez (will be a star)
Suzuki (is for real)
Smith (solid #3 in the making)
Gallagher (not there yet but will be fine)
Barton (I still wonder if he’s playing hurt this year)
Sweeney (will be ok, but won’t develop power or hit .300)
Eveland (just not very good)

I would put them in that order also

I think some people think to highly of Sweeney. His numbers would be alot better in CF but it looks like the A’s see that as Gonzales spot. I see Sweeney as a 4th Outfielder down the road, well unless he developes power in the next couple of years.

I'm excited about Cunningham

I think the A’s need to look for power in LF (or at DH, with Cust in LF) to go with Cunningham and Gonzalez.

I agree

need some power guys on the corners. I dont think Barton is ever going to be a huge slugger. Saying that, the power needs to come from 3rd, and the corner outfield spots.

IF IF IF Chavez can actually

get his shoulder fixed this Winter and come back strong, and if the A’s add someone like Burrell or Giambi, then I could see 2009 being interesting.

True

what if Chavez has to play First? What do you do with Barton?

Let him work on his roadside assistance

AAA

I think you put him back at AAA

while you see how Chavez holds up physically. Barton will only be 23 next year.

Wow. Tuned in Late.

Another rough go for Gallagher
When melons strike back

Dan Meyer, I'm a convert

maybe it’s just because you were juxtaposed with awful suckiness today.

Cargo has real grace

No doubt about that, he played that double perfectly, effortlessly.

You make that sound like a good thing

Impressive

Well, it is

Joe DiMaggio has been described as the most graceful player ever, a fascinating description, at least to me. I always keep an eye out for it in the new players.

Wouldn't it be better to look like Eric Byrnes and actually catch the ball?

That ball could not be caught

He instantly knew it, and gracefully jogged to the perfect carom spot.

It was pretty, I swear.

He probably looks good on home runs as well.

Cargo almost looks mean in his intensity

Almost, it’s a little different.

It’s redundant, I know, but this guy is a playah.

Vegas on A's Offense

Is there such a thing in Vegas as an over/under on any single team’s run production in any single game? If so, does anybody know how many runs the A’s were expected to score tonight?

Strangely, 0 was the over/under

Even if it's 0

I’d still bet the under.

DMOAS - August 4, 2008 reply

And that was just for the hits..

not the score…. :(

-2

not your comment, but the projected run total.

My guess

not over 2

Where's Rob Picciolo when you need him?

It's a trick question - you never need Rob Picciolo

What if you have Rob Crosby?

ah, you

ahem, I was about to say...

“ah, you’ve uncovered the reason Bobby Crosby picked “Bones” as his own nickname.
” I ‘rob’ from the owners, and steal from the fans!”

He didn’t wanna get stuck with “Rob”.

Bat Boy

Does the visiting team carry a uniform for the batboy? I can’t imagine each team having a full roster of uni’s for the opposing team batboy. Just wonderin’

Wow.

The A’s are really good at getting free pizza for opposing teams’ fans. Can’t we get pizza when they strike out a lot too?

whiteshoes40 - August 4, 2008 reply

i think Doc is going the distance against us tonight

SoCalA'sFan - August 4, 2008 reply

ha

Meyer and Gallagher got more Ks than Halladay,

he must read AN… because he quickly fixed that

Can't Believe It: Picciolo Now Works for the Angels, according to the Web ...

in 9 seasons Picciolo’s career OPS was .558.

By comparison, Bobby Crosby’s career OPS is .692.

Subway Ads

tasty foot long yum rocket? WTF?

I've head those

it just sounds dirty.

Um?

Oy

that was an unfortunate typo.

“I’ve heard those” commercials is what I was going for.

Ken Korach: "Halliday is making it look easy."

Nico: “Uh, Ken..It is easy.”

The A's make the average opposing pitchers look like Cy Youngs, and the Cy Youngs almost unhittable

Making it look easy...

Must of stayed at “Halladay Inn”....

100% Baseball ...

I'm thinking about cutting my toenails.

With pinking shears!

While drunk!

And blindfolded!

And eating a grape popsicle.

Why grape?

Those are the best.

To chase Danny Putnam away

I'm all choked up.

Did Jennifer chase him away before?

Cherry!

Because it’s favorite! But if they don’t have cherry I’ll get grape because it’s favorite anyway!

[/random Brian Regan reference]

Even if you play half game, you get a whole snow cone!

Always whole snow cone!

Apparently Sean Gallagher only wanted to play half game

He still gets whole snow cone.

Always whole

that's how I watch the A's...

drunk and blindfolded. I don’t see the crapfest and I don’t remember hearing it, either.

FoolshGame22 - August 4, 2008 reply

So you don't really "watch".....?

I can't see what I'm typing...

I’m blindfolded. But, I’m a pretty good touch typist, eh?

FoolshGame22 - August 4, 2008 reply

Scutaro

Double….I am not saying nothing.

I still have the jersey

How sad is it when Scutaro is one of the teams' leadoff hitters

and he’s not the worst one?

Scutaro would be one of our better hitters this year if he wasnt traded away

I love Scutaro but that is just sad

who is DJ with now?

The Durham Bulls which is the Rays AAA team

tampa bay

How about Graham Koonce?

They're not booing..

Could someone please explain with all this young talent.......

1. Why we are so terrible?

2. Why Billy thinks its ok to tank a season, and then when that doesn’t work, well, just tank it again, except this time geting no real value in return?

Please, someone enlighten me….....

P.S. – I told you all Street sucked, finaly Geren has come around

this is so depressing

I'm beginning to think Billy didn't have a plan and is just trading away all the good players

for whatever he can get, good or bad.

Erin6 - August 4, 2008 reply

Good. His plan is working.

(rubs hands together)

Lemme take a shot

1) The talent is young, but may or may not be good

2) If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. There’s no quit in Beane.

Take solace

Look at Tampa Bay. If you’re small-market in the AL, you have to suck for a while to eventually be good. That’s the reality now.

Get 2-3 top-10 picks, don't miss on any of them

If the A’s get a few Matt Wieters/Longoria/LaPorta/Ryan Braun type hitters in the next 2 drafts, and all this minor league talent comes up together, the A’s could create an AL West dynasty.

Even with the off season sell off ......

We had a shot at giving the high priced Angeles the shaft this season, and stubborn Billy took that away. And you know what? He could have gotten better value for all the players he traded in the offseason, so it really makes no sense at all.

I mean the player he just recently traded.....next offseason.....

not haren or swish or Kotsay

How could he have gotten better value for Swisher, Haren and Kotsay?

Or don't pick Pennington and Powell with 1st round picks

and grab a plus hitter with the pick you do get – or knowing that you lack heavy lumber up and down the organization, don’t select Jemile Weeks with this year’s pick..Not all the heavy hitters are gone by the 10th pick.

True, but to be fair...

The A’s were picking in the 20s when they picked Pennington and Powell.

The top-10 is considered a lot more talented in general than the picks in the 20s, except for the guys who fall because of bonus demands.

That’s why the guys in the 20s sign for ~1 million, and the guys in the top 5 sign for 4 million plus.

So he should pick Rick Porcello?

I gave the qualifier about above-slot bonus guys :)

Yes, are you saying we should pick them?

I'm saying that,

I’m not critical of the Pennington and Powell picks because they came in the mid-20s.

If a top-5 pick busts, I think the team screwed up. If a 24th overall busts, eh, not so bad.

So my point was, a down stretch will produce a bad record in ‘08 and ‘09 that will give us awesome draft picks. The last time the A’s picked in the top 10, they got guys like Mulder and Zito.

To answer your question, I don’t think Simmons-over-Porcello was bad. But I do think if you had a top-5 pick and you passed on Wieters because you’re scared of his bonus demands, that is bad. So I guess it’s case-by-case basis, and trust your scouts.

hmm.

I think I’ll watch Gilmore Girls now.

whiteshoes40 - August 4, 2008 reply

HAHAHAHAH

I suppose I shouldn’t complain about this broadcast not being in HD, It’s bad enough in normal.

Scutaro to Jays

because Billy preferred Murphy, was it?

No Crosby.

No Crosby No

I'd still rather have Murphy

Why don’t A’s fans realize just how shitty Scutaro is?

thejd44 - August 4, 2008 reply

Do you realize how shitty Murphy is?

It’s actually an exciting competition between the two.

Really good job by Meyer

It’s the first time I’ve been able to say “he looks like a major league pitcher” – especially considering he’s working on back to back days and out of the bullpen, after starting all year. He showed a plus-slider today and good command of the inside corner.

He could throw a quality start in relief like Lenny.

That would be great because it would require a bottom of the 9th

D'oh!

How bad is it

when the promo for the upcoming CWS series only says “SWISH IS BACK”.

MrHa - August 4, 2008 reply

Like the Warrior Ads used to be

I was gonna say that football season starts soon

But if your like the 9ers or Raiders, then there is no reason to look forward to football either,lol

Not true...

Always looking forward to Nolan getting fired! :)

Good thing I'm a Jaguars fan then

that's just wrong

True. Dye is back too.

They use the term "back" very loosely

Didn't you know

he was traded back to the A’s for Brown, Ellis, Street and Embree….

I was going to attend one of the upcoming CWS games for just that reason

But with each ‘epic fail’ delivered by these A’s, I feel less compelled to spend the gas $, bridge toll & BART fee to reach the Coli…even with the “Swish is back” carrot

SwisherThresher - August 4, 2008 reply

We nned to figure out a way to score some runs

Do you think the umpire would notice if we started throwing ourselves into pitches like 20 times in a row?

Throwing yourself w/o any consideration to life or limb...

Daric Barton…........c’mon down….

Good call Nico

Meyer’s slider is encouraging. He’s spotting his FB and slider pretty well. Heck, he’s spotting two more pitches for strikes than Gallagher was today.

Well with a little one that wants food and the score

Like the fat kid in dodge ball, Im out

We're not as bad as the giants right?

We Dont Have Jose Castillo

We are not a bad team, just going through tough times

Don't tell that to the Gamer...

Rich Aurillia….

Meyer pitch count:

14 yesterday, 66 today.

114 tomorrow?

All Meyer, All the Time

100% baseball

CROSBINO!!!

What the heck?

Kimberly - August 4, 2008 reply

Yay Bob!

Yay!

day-to-day - August 4, 2008 reply

Fuck you, Crosby.

WTF!!!

A meaningless, nobody on base bomb in the 8th, whats wrong with that?

I shudder to think what she'd have posted had he grounded to short.

I would have been prepared for that.

Wait wait wait....

What’s this “1” in the box?? I don’t know what that means! ;)

anomaly_kat - August 4, 2008 reply

Accidents happen

Go A’s 5 ,more please

Fosse: He Stayed Down on the ball

Well not really

Wow!

Fosse just said that the A’s have been held to 1 run or less in 25% of their games.

This surprises you?

It's just amazingly bad

25% of the time, the offense produces so few runs as to make it, like, mathematically impossible to win.

It seems like more than 25%

That's why we are 5 games under .500 with major-league leading team ERA

yep

That stat was posted a few weeks ago, if I recall correctly. Given their recent stretch, I’d imagine is a bit higher than 25%.

SwisherThresher - August 4, 2008 reply

This game bores me.

Have you read the QOTM?

No, I just blindly found a bunch of things and posted them in a diary.

You are good.

It's the "throw a dart and see where it lands" approach.

Very artistic. Sean Gallagher used a modified form of that today.

Only 8 strikeouts tonight?

Not bad, I thought they were already in double digits

Did you see Tye Waller waving Crosby around third?

That guy has GREAT instincts.

Tony would have held'em

That's not funny.

LOL

The sad thing about him hitting a bomb is

that keeps him in the lineup for the next 2,123 games.

Maybe we can credit that homer to someone else on our team.

Because we are not giving it back.

More runs in the 9th please

He'll tie Gehrig!

Gehrig made quicker adjustments AFTER he got sick

Gehrig made quicker adjustments AFTER he retired...

put em in a body bag johnny - August 4, 2008 reply

i still cant believe we have 51 wins.

our pitching carried us pretty far early on

(oops, i meant 53 wins)

put em in a body bag johnny - August 4, 2008 reply

Yes and I think we were 9 games over .500 three times

That was a pleasant surprise

Including right before this 2-15 stretch.

Thats the way it goes...

..when it’s going down the drain.

Kurt.

Block.

The.

F%#!ing.

Plate.

Kurt, Hold. Onto. The. Ball

That, too.

“Blocking” the plate while standing in a location where he would be useful if it was our pitcher trying to score seems to happen more than dropping the ball, though.

The problem there was footwork

With just a little quick footwork after catching the throw, it’s an easy tag. He got “lazy and slow” which I assume means he’s tired.

Wow, this game was much more bearable when I was only following on Gameday.

pam5981 - August 4, 2008 reply

Was it boring then, too?

Yes but I didn't have to see Kurt not block the plate and drop the ball.

And I was reading the QsOTM at work, which kept me entertained. Now I’m done.

Maybe I’ll go back and read them again.

pam5981 - August 4, 2008 reply

Here We Go - 9th inning rally

(I need to be more Pollyannish)

We knocked Halladay out

LOL

Woot ...

we ran up his pitch count! ;)

It's what we do

Scoring not so much.

So it's a Moral Victory

Yup...takes up all 8-9 innings too!

so no CG!!! nanananannananana!!!!!!!!

Halladay really like CGs, even CG losses

WE PWNZJOO

HALLADAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tye Waller...so close to waving his first runner he can taste it..

Can you DFA...

a base coach? Hmm…..

He spent some quality time with Carlos yesterday.

Not running for Thomas here = senseless

Also means high draft pick!

Glass half full!!!!!!!!!!

Because...

the A’s are about to go on a 2-out 6-run scoring tear.

and then

we woke up! Thanks DFA! ;)

LETS HAVE A KNEEJERK REACTION!!!

KNEEJERK REACTIONS SUCK!!!

Fire everyone to shake up the call for kneejerk reactions!

Bring out the pooper scooper!

Cover the field!!!!

MMunoz33 - August 4, 2008 reply

16 OF 18

Higher draft picks coming

unwatchable

even by the guys in the dugout

Well, at least

we didn’t get shut out. Glad I missed that one.

lynnzgal - August 4, 2008 reply

The makers of Melatonin should worry:

The Athletics offense will put them out of business with their all natural hitting remedies!

MMunoz33 - August 4, 2008 reply

And Ellis got another hit

57-game hitting streak intact…

Or, as the Placerville Police Dept sez…. “in tacked”.

Hmmm

we’re tied with Baltimore now….not sure if they overachieved or we underachieved….right in the thick of mediocrity….only 7 games up on the Gnats too….wow Mariners / Nats are really stink…

Houston 53 57 .482 15.5
Oakland 53 57 .482 15.5
Baltimore 53 57 .482 15.5
Kansas City 52 60 .464 17.5
Pittsburgh 51 60 .459 18
Atlanta 51 60 .459 18
Cincinnati 51 61 .455 18.5
Colorado 51 62 .451 19
Cleveland 48 62 .436 20.5
San Francisco 46 64 .418 22.5
San Diego 43 69 .384 26.5
Seattle 42 69 .378 27
Washington 41 70 .369 28

I'm so used to the A's having playoff seasons, winning seasons

it’s tough to see them have a losing record for the second year in a row

put em in a body bag johnny - August 4, 2008 reply

just got off the phone w the padres, nationals and giants.

they all said our offense sucks.

no more than theirs

Watching that Boston vs KC game

good to know that A’s are not the only team who gave up big runs with BBs and HBPs.