Athletics Nation

Davis did what Brown should have...took a step back to the bag on contact.

Brown did what Davis should have done…break on contact. It’s been that kind of a year.

cvdoug - August 5, 2008 reply

With one out, I'm sure they send Raj

You can’t really blame a coach for holding a runner at third with nobody out if it looks iffy.

Caution

Watching huston street will lower your life expectancy. Do not expose hit pitching to pregnant women or children as he is toxic.

Too late. I'm 18 and he exposed me to anti-wrinkle cream.

LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn - August 5, 2008 reply

Aw C'mon

Dotel and Rhodes were much more toxic than Street anyday. My doctor advised me not to watch them at all.

tru

Billy Koch?

DCinWC - August 6, 2008 reply

the a's have handled street poorly...

for a guy that is ridiculously positive all the time, the A’s/geren destroyed what little confidence huston had left with the confidence shattering thought save situations would be split with blevins and ziegler.

If Street pitches to Buck in a bases loaded, two out, save situation

will the universe implode?

I think the more pertinent question is

If the A’s loaded the bases with nobody out in a key situation and managed to score, would the earth split in half and we would all fall to Hades bouncing off every single rocky crag along the way?

jdr - August 5, 2008 reply

I give even odds to hades

We don’t have a hercules on our team

Caution

Watching huston street will lower your life expectancy. Do not expose hit pitching to pregnant women or children as he is toxic.

Streams Of Whiskey - August 5, 2008 reply

It's almost funny at this point.

Thanks Street. Thanks Brown.

Eff both of you.

Flashfire - August 5, 2008 reply

Save time

eff each other

If you can't eff your friends

Well then, who can you eff?

:)’

Boats and Hoes

Such a good movie!

Syphon - August 6, 2008 reply

I'm assuming Street has options left, right?

I mean, let’s face it, right now he has the worst stuff in our pen. Even Embree’s stuff is better than Street’s right now. It really looks like batting practice out there.

Tyler Bleszinski - August 5, 2008 reply

wow....that's low bro

worse than embree? nah, you’re right.

Huston's pitches stole a lyric from Tenacious D

“That’s levitation, homes!”

No, he doesn't.

He’s in his fourth year, and does not have options. The DL is where he should be parked.

jeepers - August 5, 2008 reply

Does he get a handicapped pass as well?

No, and he has to stand in the long line at the airport

And no soup. One year.

he definitely has a clear card, gives me a heart attack every time he takes the mound

theblackpearl - August 5, 2008 reply

Try a 30-minute brisk walk

Then he will be on what the 3rd batter

theblackpearl - August 5, 2008 reply

Does being in his fourth year mean he doesn't have options?

I thought Barry Bonds had all his options remaining.

Street absolutely has options...

He’s never been sent down before.

now closing for your pittsburgh pirates....

HUSTON STREET

gad, i was hoping for good news. jeebus

ak_A - August 5, 2008 reply

Total Jeebus.....

“A nice poker term used at the high stakes tables by your truly and my partners in crime”.

*M-Rod

Rotoworld is awesome

Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored in a loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

This season has been a learning experience for the 22-year-old outfielder. That he managed three hits against left-handed starter Greg Smith is certainly encouraging, considering that Gonzalez entered the game batting .197 against southpaws.

Flashfire - August 5, 2008 reply

Well...

they are right in how impressive it was even if they were wrong about why it was so impressive.

Except that he impressively got hits off of lefties

by getting four hits off of righties.

Impressive.

might be a record.

we should check.

I checked all the left-handed hitters,

and Vlad Guerrero did it once.

that one hurt, Nico

was the last game we won, the one where I offered supplication to the Baseball Gods?

I don't remember when we last won a game

I don’t think we ever have. Strangely, our last two wins have been started by Eveland and Braden. Wheeeeee.

WE HAVE NEVER WON ANYTHING EVAR!!!

BEENE SUKKS

nevermoor - August 5, 2008 reply

Isn't that type of caption

usually accompany a picture of a cat doing something remotely human?

gad, i was hoping for good news. jeebus

ak_A - August 5, 2008 reply

A's lose again

street blows another save. yeah yeah whatever.

ZIGGY STREAK AT 34!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hegenberger Road - August 5, 2008 reply

What is street's blown save streak at?

gio_is_the_future - August 5, 2008 reply

One?

4 out of 5 though, right?

Dating back to the infamous Angels game that set the earth on a fiery spiral into the bowels of Hades.

no crap

i never could have imagined it they would be this bad. would selig make us play ellis and crosby and any other vets if we went all sacramento on them?

KCB58 - August 5, 2008 reply

Make street our garbage man

Down by >2 runs, Embree/Street
Down by <= 2 runs, Brown/Casilla
even or up, Blevin/Ziggy

asfansince1989 - August 5, 2008 reply

Yes!

thank you!

Two problems with that plan:

1. Brown is on the DL
2. That plan would just cause you to learn to hate Brown and Casilla

So Street and Embree get all the innings?

No S.

And where is Devine in this plan?

Update

Down big: Embree/Street
Down a little, Casilla/Devine
Even/up: Blevins/Ziggy

Once Devine gets back in the groves, swap him with Blevins. And some of those guys need to toughen up and learn to pitch >1 inning, and maybe more difficult, be good enough to last > 1 inning.

asfansince1989 - August 5, 2008 reply

Thank You!

Again!

You'll get no arguments from me here

That was an abysmal inning. Every ball was hammered except the one grounder. Even the first out was on a line drive. Talk all you want about the blown chance to expand the lead—that ball to the gap was 2 more runs if the game had continued.

Maybe it’s dead arm, maybe it’s the groin, I don’t know—fact is, right now Street is not an effective pitcher for whatever reason. Make up some excuse and put him on the DL—call it “shoulder fatigue” or something.

If it were me

I’d DL him with a bad case of “I can’t f&%ing take it anymore!”

Hegenberger Road - August 5, 2008 reply

I think that's we DL YOU with

I'm sure Huston has similar feelings

Hegenberger Road - August 5, 2008 reply

Huston is frustrated and will bounce back for the long haul

according to his call to Robert Buan’s extra innings show

You are correct about the double. It would have scored another man or so

Street and some bad managing were the keys to the loss. (The main mistake by the manager was keeping Street in).

I'm tired of Geren's perverse fascination with the pinch runner...

one time maybe, BUT you can’t take both big bats out of the line up (see Cust and Thomas in top of 8th). Even if Street only gives up one we lose because we can’t score without those bats – even if they hadn’t done anything as of today’s game.

33SwisherSweet - August 5, 2008 reply

PT, glad you finally came around to the Street Sucks line of thinking..

he’s been scaring the crap out of me since last season. He’s had the worst stuff in the pen for the majority of THIS season.

33SwisherSweet - August 5, 2008 reply

Not to speak for PT, but I think his point is

not that Street sucks, or has sucked in the past, just that he was genuinely awful tonight.

I'm in the same boat

Though, I’ll admit for the last 4 weeks or so he’s been awful. Whatever the problem is, we’re not seeing what he’s really capable of, but he’s a lot better than this.

He's clearly getting worse

Probably whatever physical and the ensuing psychological are combining. This is the worst I’ve seen. Score one for the Brewer scouts.

No kidding.

I’m just hoping it’s purely mechanical and that we’re just going to have to spend the rest of the year watching him work through it. But if he isn’t hurt, I kind of feel like they need to do exactly what they’re doing. He’s not going to hurt the season any and I’d prefer him to get it figured out this year than over the course of next year.

The only concern I have is that it may be physical in his arm, but not painful leading him towards a Tommy John situation once the pain starts to show. He’s got the loss of speed, he’s got the loss effectiveness, all he needs now is pain in the elbow.

He's already a pain in the ass

Well if he didn't steal

all the offense’s bats, maybe he wouldn’t have to pitch as often.

I didn't

He doesn’t suck. He’s not pitching well right now. There’s a major difference.

I blame Geren for this one

Street should not have closed this game. He’s not pitching well. He shouldn’t be in this role. Geren himself said so.

richwol1 - August 5, 2008 reply

Huston Street, you're breaking my heart.

[QOTM, unfortunately still relevant division?]

lol

Where's Pam?

oblique - August 5, 2008 reply

I'm right here.

Feeling vindicatd.

pam5981 - August 5, 2008 reply

I'm gonna go change my vote.

oblique - August 5, 2008 reply

where was joey devine?

Isn’t he healthy? He needs to replace street.

sf drift king - August 5, 2008 reply

He didn't look too good before the rain delay

Did you see his 0+ innings at Fenway?

Not quite there yet.

And yet

better than the 1/3 inning of Street tonight. Go figure :)

got two outs!

MobiusKlein - August 5, 2008 reply

Management need to shut this sack of garbage down

every time he goes out there, it’s on them.

We are not doctors but anyone short of being 100 percent blind can see he should not be pitching period.

He is hiding (that’s a joke) an injury that everyone can see but they continue to run him out there.

And if he’s injured like most of us think he is, then he is bringing and has been bringing this team down to a level below abysmal on the pathetic scale.

I'm glad "everyone" can see it. I can't

Honestly, I don’t see any sign of injury, other than “pitching badly” and “not throwing as hard as he used to,” which also explain issues with mechanics, training regimen, and just about every other problem known to pitchers. He could be hurt, but he says he isn’t and it’s his career he’s messing up too by going out and posting awful numbers. Maybe he’s basically healthy and is just pitching terribly.

He just said he told Geren

that he did not have a confidence issue but was working thru some physical problems

This was when Geren had the conversation with him about closing last week.

Physical issues

I think he said (not problems)

That's the first I've heard that - Street said the other day

“physically, I’m fine.” Who knows?

AN management needs to shut you down

or at least give ANers the option to ignore annoying users.

+1

doctorK - August 5, 2008 reply

Freedom of speech

I don’t think AN management shut people down for expressing disgust with a player.

So according to you, we cannot call a player a “sack of garbage” for ruining a good game. A person cannot form an opinion that management is responsible if they keep trotting him out there and he fails time and time again.

I don’t see anything wrong with what I said.

But I understand you do, because for you, it’s just a chance for you to make a personal attack because there is no other reason for you to comment. Maybe you should have IGNORED it if you didn’t like it instead of getting your little dig in.

We are all fans of the A’s and some of us express ourselves very passionately. I don’t tell you how to express yourself so I suggest you do likewise.

I didn’t see you commenting on the 800 posters who said Fuck, get rid of this guy, I am sick of Street etc.

+1

Disagree, but let the man speak. There are some out there who agree with him and the last time I checked, there was no “A” in Censorship.

It might be a little extreme to post what train posted, but we all have our moments expressing feelings about something we all obviously love—A’s Baseball for better or worse.

Well, agree with it or not, there is a provision in the CGVs for excessive negativity

There’s a lot of it with the way the team’s playing lately, but some people do have a tendency to be negative by default to the point of doing nothing to try to balance it out.

By the way, please don't pull "Freedom of speech" on a message board...

...you do not control. “Freedom of speech” on a board hosted by someone else is whatever they say it is. The First Amendment doesn’t apply.

just look at Halo's Hell, for example...

maybe a bad example to follow.

I'm not saying I always agree with it, just to be clear.

Just saying that a lot of people have a misconception about freedom of speech when it comes to places like this online. They think they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, but that all depends on what someone allows.

are you a lawyer or a future lawyer?

I, of course, agree with what you’re saying… but, I’m just curious.

Nope, and I have no desire to be one.

I’ve just seen a lot of people over the years be quick to cry “free speech” on message boards when someone gets tired of what they’re saying.

damn...

I was hoping to increase my JD/AN ratio.

Just to be clear

Calling someone a “sack of garbage” IS a personal attack. Granted there are and have been more extreme/offensive ones, but it doesn’t make it any less of an attack. So before you start getting high and mighty about others attacking you, you may want to think twice about it.

It's only an attack if it's false

And in this case it’s true. Huston’s body is composed entirely of banana peels, coffee grounds, pizza boxes and discarded shoes. His arm is a discarded garden hose.

Likewise, Emil Brown is made up entirely of old gym socks.

CarGon's Jock - August 6, 2008 reply

wrong (as usual)

you have no freedom of speech here, there are community guidelines.

seriously can we please get an ignore user option? plenty of other sites have such a feature. clockwerks?

"Wrong (as usual)"

Nice comment and something that I have come to expect from you

Kind of like excessive negativity from you with lots of player insults?

Well

when a team loses 17 or 19 it tends to bring out more negative comments that normal.

I was waiting for that

You’ve been this way long before this losing streak hit.

Trainman was just appreciating the team's underwhelming peripherals

monkeyball - August 6, 2008 reply

LOL

The A's are just now catching up

with Trainman’s Pythagorean Negativity record.

Good One

Oh yeah!

Where was DeVine?

In the clubhouse getting ready to clock Street, I presume…..........

Poor Manging was another key reason we lost.

1- Decision to keep Street as closer/ keep him in after a few hits.
2- Horrible decision to double pinch run. Frank’s run would have been a run to put us up 3. Is a pinch runner really needed? Its not really because Brown got picked off. BUT IF STREET GOT THEM OUT GIVING UP 1 RUN. WE ARE NOW IN EXTRA INNINGS WITHOUT OUR TWO BEST POWER HITTERS!!!

Also, one of the managers’s job is to motivate the team/ ensure accountability. In a rebuilding year is it good for the team to learn how to lose/ give up??

I don't get the anger

I get the negativity. I don’t get the anger, directed at Huston in particular. He is an incredibly gifted pitcher who’s done great stuff for us in the past, who’s pitching like absolute crap at the moment. But he’s not doing it on purpose. If he knew how to stop it he obviously would. And it’s not like he just blew the final game of the year when we were one game out of first.

Englishmajor - August 5, 2008 reply

+1

He has never been the same since he injured his ulnar nerve

You can call him gifted but that is past tense.

I am angry at management that they keep sending him out there.

They are supposed to know best right?

We saw this downward slide two months ago. I fail to see how they didn’t.

It’s called incompetence and maybe they may just realize after this debacle that Street should have thrown his last pitch of the season. I sure hope so.

Don't you think it's possible, Trainman, that management

sees his downward slide, but also sees that they don’t have a lot of other good options? Devine’s been hurt. Casilla came back very wobbly. Embree has been as bad as Street. And they are using Ziggy and Blevins more and more in higher and higher leverage situations. Trying to get Street turned around makes a lot more sense than chucking him out to the sidewalk.

Didn't we use the bullpen for like 18 innings in the last 3 games.. There was no one else to pitch.

I can see giving Street the opportunity to turn things around. I just don’t think it will be this year.

Eastbayjim - August 5, 2008 reply

I agree that we don't have a lot of other good options

Devine is just coming back and I could see him giving up a few runs here and there until he gets his control back. Look at Casilla, he has taken some time to come back and is slowly getting better.

I think he was rushed back too soon.

Ziggy is lights out but then we have a problem in innings 7 and 8 if he closes. I still think Ziggy is more valuable in those 2 innings. But having said that, look what happened to the game tonight.

Street did say he let the team down who worked so hard for those 8 innings. Had we scored more runs I still think the result is the same because more runs would have scored the way he was pitching.

11 K/9 last season

almost all compiled after the nerve injury in the second half of the season, argues really strongly that you are wrong.

+1

OK but still disagree

Arm injury, Groin injury.

whatever, he sucks, velocity way down. I would be willing to bet he’s injured somewhere.

He used to get it up to 94 a few years ago.

Hangs just about every slider he throws, his 89 mph fastball are either balls or right down the middle.

The bottom line is he should not be closing

I am right on that, even you would have to admit that

I agree Street should not be closing anymore,

but I also think you can make a perfectly good argument that every other A’s reliever also should not be closing at the moment. Hence the problem.

OK but Street looks and quacks like he's trying to play through injury.

We’ve seen this movie before—Mulder, Chavez…

The nice thing about "playing through injury"

is that it generally turns out really well. Like with Chavez, he’ll play significantly worse, while continuing to aggravate the injury and delay his eventual recovery time. Or with Mulder, he’ll create a new injury that effectively destroys his career.

I didn't say it was a comedy

I've come to think of it as one

in a Dr. Strangelove, mineshaft-gap kind of way.

The problem seems to be when he DOESN'T strike guys out.

mikev - August 5, 2008 reply

3 righties got him today - that's unusual and unsettling

Yes

And two of them got him on his normally unhittable slider. Even more unusual and unsettling.

Those two pitches were so bad that BEFORE they were hit,

as they were halfway to the plate I said, “Oh crap.”

those were really really terrible sliders

He's lost some big games for us. Why not give some other guys a chance??

gio_is_the_future - August 5, 2008 reply

+1

Why place the blame on Huston? It’s not like he is purposely trying to blow games. I’m sure he wanted that win tonight as much as anyone else. But something is wrong with him, either physical or psychological (maybe both), and whatever it is, it’s preventing him from pitching to his potential. But what can he do when Geren sends him out there? Refuse to pitch? Management needs to put Street on the DL or something (make up an injury, who cares) for his own good, but these “Fuck you Huston” comments are misplaced.

+1 The entire organization has bailed already

and I don’t think that Geren’s surprisingly negative comments about him have helped him either.

geren? negative?

i thought everyone complained that geren was too positive?

I liked his positivity. I was surprised by the negative comments myself.

I don't get the negativity either, but then I've never been angry after a baseball game.

I was, however stunned and dazed after Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

GTE

agreed

the anger is misplaced.

skutch - August 5, 2008 reply

No

but it makes for great blog bashing!!!!!

Yes!

I like the pic of Dale and Swooney in the game thread.

That was cute.

And I second the request for that video of them in Japan—me want to see!

Some good news

Mazzaro loads the bases (HBP, Bunt single, Walk) and then strikes out the side in his first inning at AAA.

agreed. The other callers weren't the most hostile

I can imagine in Philly or NYC they would be calling him names and such.

That being said it was a classy move.

I will give him that

95 percent of players would not call in after that

What did he say?

"Would you like fries with that?"

And did Buan?

Huston would make a great Burger King employee: “Ketchup? That’s easy – wait for the next hanging slider!”

Buan said "you suck, huston"

Buan’s secret AN identity = trainman

~~Burger KIng~~ White Castle

monkeyball - August 6, 2008 reply

Street lost it

Just looking at him after the first hit then the double you could tell he has no confidence in his pitches. He needs to be man enough to admit he doesn’t deserve to be the closer. If I hear 1 whine by him complaining about being demoted from the closer role its time to run his butt out of town.

Arcman - August 5, 2008 reply

So women wouldn't admit that they don't deserve to close?

That’s odd, because as much as Street is struggling I’d still rather have him out there in a 3-2 game than have Jennifer or EnglishMajor – nothing personal, ladies. Well maybe a little.

You have got to be kidding Nico

They would be looking at the pitches if Jennifer or EnglishMajor closed. 1, 2, 3 inning over..we win

Eastbayjim - August 5, 2008 reply

I haven't seen Jennifer's fastball

I could certainly get one out from the batter falling down on the ground laughing. But then, yeah, pretty much straight wild pitches.

Englishmajor - August 5, 2008 reply

I used to pitch when I played softball.

That was 15 years ago.

man enough

not like there’s no precedent…Isringhousen said he couldn’t close, took himself out.

Izzie’s back in, but “on watch”.

Most closers fail by walking guys, like Izzie, Koch, because they cannot contain the fastball.

Seems like Street’s prob is “good movement” versus “no movement”. No movement and they get hits.

One won lost won - August 5, 2008 reply

I'm wondering if some of it's mechanical, specifically his stride

It seems like sometimes his motion is very fluid and he has life/velocity/movement on his fastball, and that other times he appears to be slinging the pitch with only his arm – as if his stride and arm are not in synch – and his velocity/movement are down.

This does sound like a physical problem -- attempted compensation for an injury somewhere

I nominate my python for next closer

Sure, he has no arms, but he still has to be better than Huston….

Good grief

eagleshead - August 5, 2008 reply

I wouldn't trust him. I suspect he's a snake in the grass.

Probably gets rattled

Good curve, decent slider...

What Would Rickey Do - August 5, 2008 reply

He's excellent at the suicide squeeze too....

eagleshead - August 5, 2008 reply

Streets off-season trade value keeps getting low

But maybe we can package him for that fat Prince guy.

Nelson is fat now?

Can we trade for that fresh Prince guy?

He can actually sing “Gettin’ Ziggy with it” live when Zig goes to the mound.

new take...swooney

ol’ swooney got fooled on bajaras’ ball. yes bad pitch, yes tough play, but if jack cust can me a b-line to the right spot, so can swoon. he was playing no doubles defense and cut straight across to the ball, if he takes a better angle we should win

KCB58 - August 5, 2008 reply

True that it isn't every day Cust looks better in LF than Sweeney

But Street was getting hit so hard the next guy probably wins it anyway.

nevermoor - August 5, 2008 reply

Thank the GODS that we are playing for 2009-10-11 not 2008

I am looking forward to seeing your guys come up and play and win positions for 2009. Too bad we don’t have a couple more plus closers or setup men in AAA right now. They are already here.

Eastbayjim - August 5, 2008 reply

Garcia's in AAA

On the DL

That goes without saying

Top 10-15 closer my ass

I’ve got your explanation, Nico. Huston Street is fucking awful.

sprtsnwyn - August 5, 2008 reply

Something is definitely up

I’d go w/ Street’s Mechanics being WAY OFF + Zero Confidence.

On the bright side:

1. Carlos Gonzalez tore the cover off the ball tonight. He would have had 2 coubles, but he hit the ball too hard..

2. ZIGGY!

3. Gio Tomorrow.

4. Ryan Sweeney keeps putting the barrel on the ball.

5. Greg Cesar Smith was FITZ

Colorado Fan - August 5, 2008 reply

3 hits is good and all

but I have to say, Ryan Sweeney had about the worst 3-hit game I can recall seeing.

No kidding

When Foss remarked about his slap oppo single about how he was “back” and “healthy” I was thinking bullshit, the guy can’t even hold the bat well enough to make solid contact.

sadly, he doesn’t need to be able to, a crippled sweeney is still one of our better hitters.

Very true

I see everyone, even Nico and PT, have come around...

to my way of thinking.

Beane should have traded Street for whatever anybody offered. He’s horrible.

FoolshGame22 - August 5, 2008 reply

Put yourself in the other 29 GM's position

then how much do you value Street?

That’s why he still here. He’s not worth an empty Monster Taquito wrapper. I know because I just ate one and am looking at it.

That sounds tasty

was it good?

Hogwash

Yep.

Street is crappy...

he has been all season. I don’t give a flying fuck what his K/9 was in the second half of last year. Have either of you actually watched the guy pitch this year? Christ, my fastball is better.

With the caveat that "whatever" has to actually be some kind of value

I agree with you. I’ve never thought Street was a premier closer, lacking an out pitch, and closers are overvalued generally anyway. I’d have been happy to see him depart any time over the last couple of years, for some halfway reasonable return.

Lacking an out pitch

Yes, one batter an inning somehow strikes out on… something. Not “an out pitch,” apparently.

If his slider is not an out pitch, I have no idea what the term means.

It hasn't been lately.

“I’ve never thought Street was a premier closer, lacking an out pitch”

His slider and his change were both fantastic pitches.

Right now, they’re not.

So true. He is not horrible.

And he is pitching horribly.

I'll elaborate

My context is that I think hardly anyone is a premier closer, that for every Rivera there are a dozen Isringhausens and Percivals, who can be dominant for long stretches but who rarely sustain it for even three straight years.

But because MLB places such an exagerated value on the save, many adequate relief pitchers such as Huston get lumped into the very good category, making their perceived value much greater than their actual value. And that’s the textbook case for dealing a player. I still think (as does Beane and many others, apparently) that a team can have the closer function without paying a\n adequate reliever big time closer value (and yes, I know Street doesn’t make that scratch yet). So I’ve wanted Street to be dealt for a long time…occasionally-to-mostly good is pretty easy to find, and given limitations, great ain’t worth having (especially for a team which isn’t a contender).

No

That’s not it at all. There’s a difference between “Street is pitching poorly” and “Street is horrible.” When you have a pitcher who is effective most of the time, why would you try to trade him when his value is at its lowest point? If he had been healthy and pitching well this season, I’m pretty sure he would have been traded.

Monday Fan - August 6, 2008 reply

It was nice for Huston to call in and all

but I don’t know how he can say he still has the confidence in himself to get the job done…..I really did not see the so called “confidence” he was describing” out there tonite.

Personally, I am a Huston Street fan but when my good friend warns me to “never wear my fucking Texas Longhorns hat with the Street pic pen again! Ever!”...well I must start to consider my personal safety….............(gulp!).

I may have to burn...

...my alternate black A’s jersey I bought this year. Not sure I want to wear something to remind me of this cratered season.

gregorymark - August 5, 2008 reply

You bought a black jersey?

Can you "burn" it

by sending it to me so I can wear it?

It’s still an A’s jersey.

CJ Wilson grand slam to sexon

score?

8 to 6 now

thanks

3 straight Yankees game with a grand slam

Im going tomorrow night, its so damn hot here in texas right now

rent out your place in Texas

move to Hell

...cooler! ;^)

One won lost won - August 5, 2008 reply

him and street are both bad

Gallagher's Watermelons - August 5, 2008 reply

Not really, C.J. has been 1,999,999x better than Street!

LiZaRdReVoLuTiOn - August 5, 2008 reply

You forgot to write

Since Wilson has very obviously been WAY worse than Street.

It was no surprise...

Saw the first Jays’ batter get on, and I considered the game lost. Sad state of affairs when one foresees the awful end.

gregorymark - August 5, 2008 reply

Street Sheet. Who cares?!

Gio starts tomorrow! SWEET! I think it’s time for Ziggy or Devine to close it out. Shut Huston down for now.

A'sfansince1970 - August 5, 2008 reply

Hey! That's a great idea!

Bob Geren, is that you????

I'd suggest Ziggy and Blevins close

until Devine is ready, then Devine. Let Street pitch in 7th/8th set-up duty if he’s healthy, DL if he’s not.

where was devine tonight

In the bullpen

Im guessing hes not 100% yet

After watching the yankees game, Yankees wouldnt mind having street

I wouldn't mind having Austin Jackson...or Alex Rodriguez

Let’s talk.

To be honest

set up duty might be expecting a little too much for Street at the moment. But like you say, we are not overflowing with lights out relievers at the moment

what do we need a closer for...

if Street pitches the 7th and 8th? won’t we be losing?

Good thing Tony Soprano is not the manager

otherwise he’d be setting up his funeral arrangements…......

feels like the A's have hit bottom...

I’m predicting a 12-2 blowout (win) tomorrow, and something like an 7-3 run over the next ten games.

skutch - August 5, 2008 reply

I could see a run over the next ten games

In fact, it’s the over/under!

yeah, there is that possibility...

if I only had admin rights, I’d be feeling much more confident in my predictive abilities…

skutch - August 5, 2008 reply

And Nico would be BaNnEd?

nevermoor - August 5, 2008 reply

lol

One plus: Ken mentioned on the broadcast

that Brett Anderson’s first start in Beijing was 4 IP, 4 hits, 1 ER IIRC, and Trevor Cahill’s was 4 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER IIRC – I may have a number off here or there but both pitched 4 excellent innings.

http://web.usabaseball.com/index.jsp

not in beijing

they were exhibition games in OKC i believe..you can watch cahill’s game here..i dont think they did a webcast of anderson

Asfan4ever723 - August 5, 2008 reply

Bleah. Mazzaro got knocked out with a 4-run 6th

5.2 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.

Gallagher's Watermelons - August 5, 2008 reply

Mazzaro actually wasn't that bad

I was watching on MiLB.com…they were mostly bloop hits. He has great stuff, he just needs a couple starts to get used to the new league and new hitters

The 2 GB outs and 9 FB outs seemed weird for him though

But...In Stockton...

Chris Carter has hit his 30th HR and Josh Donaldson is 2 for 2. :-)

Spencer homered as well

S-s-s-sssssmokin'!!!

Ellis had a hit today...57-game streak

right on track!!
...with a closing BA of .259…

One won lost won - August 5, 2008 reply

I wonder my Street jersey from last year's promotion has any value left

Maybe it goes the way of my Scutaro and Bradley shirts.

asfansince1989 - August 5, 2008 reply

I have four A's t-shirts.

None of them are current anymore, and all of them have been purchased in the last five years.

jeepers - August 5, 2008 reply

I'm going to customize a Ryan Langerhans home jersey.

mikev - August 5, 2008 reply

Beane's Defining Moment

This are truly the dark days of the A’s. I expected the A’s to slip back a bit, with all the games away from home and because I didn’t expect young pitchers like Eveland and Smith to maintain the same level of performance over the course of the entire year. But I could never have predicted this kind of monumental collapse. I can’t help but agree with some of the other posts that the trading away everyone when the A’s could still smell first place devastated the morale of who remained. True, the lineup is depleted and the hitting was mediocre anyway, but 2-16 is beyond comprehension.

I’ve always been a Beane advocate so far (not that he is perfect, but smarter than most), but in my mind his current re-architecture of the team is really cements – or unravels – his legacy and reputation as a mastermind. If the A’s are a multi-year contender a few years from now, then I will be the first to applaud his long-term vision and chalk up the current collapse as a temporary price to pay. But if that’s not case, I can’t stand behind Beane anymore. In my mind this is his last chance. I look at teams like the Twins and [to a lesser extent] the Marlins as teams who are better than the A’s at fielding competitive teams yearly despite being in small markets.

After all, it was only three years ago in 2005 when the big three were traded that Beane proclaimed that it would be the worst team the A’s have for five years. This is his second overhaul…if it doesn’t work, I will view the A’s just like the Royals, Pirates and other teams who endlessly search and turn over their rosters and delude themselves into thinking they are making progress.

The reality is the drafts of the past several years have been mediocre anyway—the A’s have been unable to replenish a farm system weakened by trading away prospects for short term help during the playoff run years of 2000-3. So here we are, in a position where Beane had to trade the whole team away to compensate. Yuck. Maybe it’s just that the rest of the league has caught onto his act, and/or taken a page from his book. Whatever the reason, the gap has closed and the days of the A’s winning one-sided trades or acquisitions is all but over. It doesn’t bode well for the future and it doesn’t make one want to go out to the ballpark.

murlow - August 5, 2008 reply

the Marlins are truly a genius organization...

that team may well win it all again this year. Mark my words.

Don't we technically mark your words

if you say the Marliins will win this year?

It’s like saying Barack Obama may win the presidency, though he may not.

I'm sure there are a few who save my comments like this...

just so they can throw it back at me when it doesn’t happen. But, I’d venture to say, that I was the only one on AN who picked the Marlins to be this good. I may be wrong. I haven’t gone back and looked. But, just a guess….

You also picked the A's to make the playoffs

and IIRC asked us to mark your words on that one too. So it’s a mixed bag.

Also, the Marlins ain’t making it…Phils and maybe Mets will finish ahead of them.

yes... well, my green & gold colored glasses...

always cloud my judgment when it comes to picking the A’s to make the playoffs. But, I did also pick the Rays to win the AL East. In the end, maybe neither the Rays or Marlins make it, but I still think those were pretty good picks.

"I was the only one on AN who picked the Marlins to be this good"

WTF??

NL East
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
N.Y. Mets
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals

wait, what year is this?

okay…

NL East
N.Y. Mets
Florida Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

a’s in the ALCS?
no sophomore slumps?
foolsh bragging after two games?

damn Billy for sabotaging my A's to the ALCS prediction...

this year. We were obviously going all the way until he traded Harden, Blanton and Gaudin. Had the Halos in our sights before he folded the tent.

Minnesota

will officially take the mantle of most successful small-revenue team this decade by the end of the season. Terry Ryan > Billy Beane. All Bill Smith needs to do is not mess it up.

jeepers - August 6, 2008 reply

Why is being a small-revenue team a badge of honor?

I’d pick St Louis as best small-market team—you know they’re limited by the size of their market, not their incompetence in generating revenues.

Street = Benitez

Radio said today that the A’s were almost inventing new ways to loose.

fansince1980 - August 5, 2008 reply

Not even close

Street has a long way to go to reach Boonitez level.

That being said, he certainly is straying a little too far down that road for my tastes.

doctorK - August 5, 2008 reply

We'll know he's there when he starts saying "I did my job."

Though they did say on the broadcast today that it seemed like Street looked at Sweeney for a moment as if he should’ve caught the ball. Hmmm.

One of the most disheartening losses this season

On the bright side, I’ve discovered the Huston Street diet – his attempts to close out games recently will make quick work of your appetite.

doctorK - August 5, 2008 reply

Someone above wrote

“why put the blame on Huston? It’s not like he’s trying to lose …”
I’m sorry, but that has to be one of the lamest things I’ve ever read. What does “not trying to lose” have to do with anything? You either do the job or you don’t. Huston blew the game - therefore the blame lies with him.
I’m not going to pile on Street … he’s a talented guy, who’s pitching horribly right now. Really, really horribly. But let’s call a spade a spade. Street doesn’t look like he’s trying to duck the criticism, and rightly so - he deserves every bit of it. Therefore, there’s absolutely no reason to defend his abysmal outing by writing that he’s trying hard. That has absolutely nothing to do with it. Huston Street sucks right now. Period. Just leave it at that.

Vacafan - August 5, 2008 reply

People aren't objecting to the "Street is awful right now" comments

They’re objecting to people saying “FUCK YOU STREET!!1” and calling him a “sack of garbage” and the like.

I don't really get those types of comments either. They leave a bad aftertaste.

Agreed. The name calling is just juvenile.

On the other hand, I also put no stock into comments like Street’s “not trying to lose”. Well, duh!, of course he’s not trying to lose. Even the best fail occasionally, but he’s still a major league player and shouldn’t be failing as often as he has been lately.

UncleLeo - August 6, 2008 reply

Hmm...

maybe he IS trying to lose. Maybe he sees the value of a higher draft pick next year and he’s taking one for the team in a losing year. Or… you know. Not.

I missed the Bot 9th Heroics

Or lack there of to watch the Dark Knight for $4.50, the movie kind of just went on and on…

Street has just been too scary to watch.

Hit4TheCycle - August 5, 2008 reply

Sweet Bill King ...

... if he was to miraculously rise from the dead and see what happened to his beloved A’s he would probably drop dead again. When they couldn’t score with bases loaded and no outs I knew that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, even before they gave the ball to Street.

Johnny U - August 5, 2008 reply

This is me after watching Huston Street pitch

Buck Turgidson - August 6, 2008 reply

shouldn't you be putting that gun...

to your own head? That’s what I wanted to do when Street was announced in the 9th. We all knew what was going to happen.

I, too, am often a bad loo tenant

monkeyball - August 6, 2008 reply

heh

Electricians turned off all the power on our street for the entire day.

I don’t know whether I should be grateful or mad that they did. I didn’t have any access to tonight’s game, but I couldn’t eat 80% of the food we have at home cause I couldn’t use my freakin’ microwave.

Kimberly - August 6, 2008 reply

This says something depressing about the state of American culture

but I’m not exactly sure what.

Impatience?

Diet habits that make stoves obsolete?

someone turned the power off

on our Street, too.

Brian in 317 - August 6, 2008 reply

Why not Ziggy in the 9th?

Ziggy only threw 20 pitches and faced the minimum of 6 batters in his two innings. Relief pitchers like Gossage used to pitch 3 innings for saves all the time. Geren is old enough to remember those days. What happened in the 9th was so predictable that most people would have been shocked if the save was not blown.

SA - August 6, 2008 reply

I actually agree with this...

should have given Ziggy the chance to extend his scoreless innings. After all, his self-stated goal is to “never give up a run” in his pitching career. Huston has already done that, in spades… I’d rather have seen Ziggy. But, that would have required Geren to think outside the box. I really don’t think baseball guys do that a lot.

Ziggy did pitch three innings last week. It's not like the idea's never occurred to Geren.

Ziggy is the only guy we can count on right now in that bullpen...

but he can’t pitch every inning . We don’t want to overuse him and (gasp) ruin another arm.

He's a horse with a rubber arm. He's got the guts of a bullmastiff.

There ya go...

Seriously, he’s the only solid thing to grab onto in this whirlwind of suckitude.

I was a little concerned about him

after that second inning. He was starting to lose effectiveness towards the end. And yes, the “possible” Ziggy inning is likely more reliable than Huston right now, but I don’t mind the losing anymore in a season that’s gone anyway. I figure, let the guy try to work through his issues for the rest of the year and lower everyone’s overall value in the process to make them a little cheaper to sign. One less “win” for Smith.

I was at the Giant's game tonight...

and when I saw that the score for the A’s had gone from 3-2 to 3-3 I KNEW that it was Huston. He needs to get his stuff together and figure out why he his having this trouble. If there is no help for him then they need to give Zeigler a chance at being the closer. Ziggy doesn’t have typical closer stuff but he’s a good pitcher and is not allowing runs. That’s what we need for a closer….not a guy with a fastball that is coming right down the middle.

his fastball wasn't really a problem tonight...

well, except for the fact that he has no confidence in it. Two meatball sliders and done.

I didn't see tonight's game.

As I said I was in SF…but I have watched Huston and his fastball get hit plenty this season…almost glad to know that he wasn’t throwing them tonight. I feel sorry for Huston…and I want him to succeed, of course. But enough is enough. He needs to be in a less pressure situation when he pitches IMO.

I feel sorry for Huston, too...

I actually like the guy. I want him to to be good. But, despite what PT says, he sucks.

But, what I really want to know is… what the hell were you doing at a Giants game? Rooting for the Tribe, I hope. Hey, they slaughtered the Giants. The Yanks lost…. so, today was almost a good day.

lol... the NL Tribe, that is

My Youngest daughter ...

(maybe to be rebellious) developed a love for the Braves when she was a little one. We even took her to see the Braves last year in Atlanta. She now loves the A’s again too, but the Braves are her number 1 team. She’s 24 so I don’t expect that to change. But… Even though the A’s are the team I have loved for 30 years… I am not a Giant’s hater. I understand why others are, though. I just don’t feel the hate.

I can forgive your daughter... she is but a misguided child

you, however, have no such excuse for not being a Giants’ hater. They are the devil. Denounce them.

They have the fan base.

I hate that . I also hate that they do so little with their money. But I don’t hate their fans and I do love their park..and I enjoy watching them play. Just not like I love watching the A’s. The A’s will always be the team that causes me pain when they lose. The Giant’s will never be that. But I get why you hate them. I feel the same way about the Raiders. I despise the Raiders with all of my heart and love the Niners.

how anyone with your screen name...

can love the Whiners and hate the Raiders is beyond me. Were Joe Montana and Barry Manilow seperated at birth? Or is it just me?

Just you...lol.

BTW? On the Niners site my SN is IM4Niners. :-)

gag me

Some people here would like to do that.

{teasing}

I've never tried the asphyxiation thing...

but, you’re a married woman.

Now you are being..

shocking Haha.

sorta like cunnilynnzgus and oh2be21...

I think. Maybe, I got the wrong AN couple.

captain bubblehead - August 6, 2008 reply

I blame Ziggy!

If his streak doesn’t end soon, the A’s losing streak will not either!!

Oaktownflav - August 6, 2008 reply

Brad Ziegler

You’ve probably already seen this, but Brad has been nominated for July’s American League rookie of the month. This is a fan-vote award. You can vote using the link on the A’s home page.

ERA of zero?

I’m thinking he ought to win that one, but it will probably go to like Jacoby Ellsbury or some sh**.

As badly as this team needed this W

to regain its confidence, I think Geren et al. felt Street, just as badly, needed to save this important W to regain his own confidence. To once again feel that the team has confidence in him to get the job done when the game is on the line. Granted, the whole thing blew up in their faces, and now they all probably feel worse for it, but if it had worked, the team gets a huge psychological boost, especially Street.

It was a calculated gamble and they lost.

MrHa - August 6, 2008 reply

Team Confidence > Single Player's Confidence

After openly stating that they would be “playing the hot hand” re: the Bullpen, Geren went out and did EXACTLY the opposite of that, and the team suffered because of it.

I don't disagree

I just think they saw the opportunity to kill 2 birds with one stone and took the chance.

MrHa - August 6, 2008 reply

strategy against street, lay off the slider and wait for the fastball...

street only has 2 pitches…he can’t throw the slider for strikes and his fastball is straight and not overpowering. unless he does something to change that, his gig is up.

Grumpy50 - August 6, 2008 reply

Sounds like the strategy against K-Rod.

Joe Nathan's as good as anyone out there

30 saves but at least he doesn’t put runners on every appearance like K-Rod. Great ERA and of course, low hits to innings pitched and a great WHIP

Ironic timing, as Nathan got a blown save last night too

Yeah

I notice he only has 3. I didn’t check that out but thought something was up as his ERA was up a little.

3 out of 33 isn’t too bad though.

For the most part you can expect a quick inning with him and he’s been great for quite a few years.

The Blue Jays apparently didn't agree with you

since they smashed the slider twice for the key hits.

But I thought it was an out pitch?

They're not powerful enough to hit it out

Why do the A's hate Casilla?

Seriously. It’s like the organization has some aversion to hard throwing pitchers with sometimes questionable command. Look, I get it, walks are bad. But a little wildness isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially in small doses. Casilla has been so poorly handled it’s really a waste. The guy went from phenom to after thought, due to no fault of his own. He has an electric arm and has always struck out a ton of guys at every level. Sure, his walks were a bit high when he got first called up a couple years ago, but he didn’t give up many hits. I’d rather have had him closing than Street since Street took over the job. And, he’s almost certainly the best option right now. Ziegler is too valueable in his current role of bullpen “ace” or whatever, plus I’m not really that sold on the guy (historic streak and all). Low k rate, low walk rate, and ridiculous gb/fb ratio, doesn’t strike me as particularly sustainable. I’d love to be proven wrong though.

As for Street, I read up thread someone say Street used to ramp it up to 94. I don’t really remember that and I don’t think it’s really true. He’s pretty much always been a slider pitcher with a decent, but not overpowering fastball. Given how the A’s have treated closers as fungible, I think they really messed this one up. They should have moved him last year (and I was saying that then). He loses effectiveness out of the stretch, is terrible working more than one inning, and has an average, straight fastball. Yes, his slider, when “on” is very, very good. No doubt. But, so what? So is Casilla’s. Indeed, I think Casilla’s is better, with harder two-plane break. Street’s is more slurvy (like Devine’s).

Anyway, to circle the wagon, am I just wrong in thinking that the A’s seriously undervalue guys that have shaky command, but electric arms. Guys like Casilla and Juan Cruz, who was never really given much of a chance, for whatever reason. I mean, look at a guy like Lincecum. Seriously below average command (but still pretty good control) and crazy stuff. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball, but I feel like a guy like him would never get a shot in this organization, for whatever reason.

/end rant

RayRay59 - August 6, 2008 reply

Casilla was almost lights out before he hurt his arm

I think he came back too soon and I am sure he must have been reluctant to throw his slider as that apparently was the pitch he threw when he hurt his arm.

He was setting up and even closed a few before this happened. It’s been rough for him since and I don’t think we have seen many sliders since but hopefully he will be back to what he was in time for next season. He appears to have improved of late. He just needs to have the confidence to throw his stuff again.

CAUSE HE'S A LIAR

I still think Street will be fine

He’s going through a pretty bad stretch, but he’ll bounce back. I don’t have any graphs or data to prove this, but he’s a smart, heady kid. He’ll get through this and come out stronger on the other end.

But would you keep running him out there at this moment

Knowing that every time he goes out there, he gets knocked around, and becoming less confident and more demoralized. Like you said, he’s still a kid, so give him a break right?

asfansince1989 - August 6, 2008 reply

oops, my reply to you is below

Yes, I would

I think “demoting” him to a mid-reliever situation would be just as demoralizing and hurts his confidence all the same.

Ideally, Geren/Beane would have a one on one with him and tell him that he is still their guy and they want him to get through his struggles as much as he does and they believe in him 100%. Of course, that isn’t happening as we’ve already heard some rumblings that other guys will get a shot at closing.

Despite his horrendous performances recently, he’s still 18 for 24 in save opportunities. Not great by any means, but a 75% save rate isn’t the worst out there. I’d like to just let him ride it out, at least for the rest of this season, and hope for the best.

The only thing that really has me concerned about him is his struggles vs lefties. 5 of the 6 HRs he’s given up have been to left handed batters. Aside from that concern, I wouldn’t be surprised if Street eventually returned to form.

His confidence shouldn't really matter when it affects the whole team.

Shitty offense or not, they were in a position to win last night, and Street didn’t get it done.

WINS will build confidence for everybody. Seeing a (probably injured) closer repeatedly go out and get shelled does nothing for anybody’s confidence—unless we’re talking about opposing hitters.

Just to add

The important thing to note here is that there is a way to assign a less stressful roll to a player (temporarily) without it being a judgment of ineptitude

asfansince1989 - August 6, 2008 reply

I'd rather be fair than loyal

Everyone includes Street knows that this is a professional game, A’s are no more emotionally invested in him than any other player. They did try to trade him. I think it’s more important to be professional and treat players by their performance. If Ziggy is pitching well, he deserves a shot. Yes Street will get the short end of the stick this time, but it sends out a message to everyone, including Street, that if they pitch well, everyone will get a shot. If Street were to lose confidence if he loses his closer job, and not be motivated to want to win it back, then I don’t think he deserves the job in the 1st place.

asfansince1989 - August 6, 2008 reply

and we know it affects the whole team?

If the whole team’s confidence gets affected by a blown save, I’m not sure I even want those guys on a team then. Instead, I hope the vets on the team band everyone together and have everyone get behind one another.

It’s a total team effort. There were plenty of moments that cost them the game. Street blowing the game doesn’t kill the entire team’s mood and I don’t think it did.

Losing 17 out of 19 affects the whole team.

When the team does enough to win and the closer blows it, it’s rough.

No, they’re not going to start fighting in the locker room or anything, but it’s demoralizing to keep going through loss after loss.

The level of confidence the team has right now is very, very low.

It does affect a team's mood

Not saying it kills a team’s mood but it’s not like everyone’s running out to party after a loss like that. The clubhouse was very quiet.

WOW

TB just scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th while recording no outs.

Double
Double
Home Run (Gabe Gross) that was a few short of back wall
Single
Walk
Home Run (Carlos Pena) on the 1st pitch

That took about 8 minutes including a pitching change

On another note a Baltimore Rookie in his first AB hits a solo shot off Erivn Santana on the first pitch

Wow - sweet!

I’m still bummed the A’s and Indians never worked a trade for Street. Talk about a team that needs him.

Nah, they can finish last without him