First the good news: 35. Then the bad news: 10.
As the A's rookie phenom Brad Ziegler wrote this morning, today would have been a great opportunity for the A's to stop their losing skid, and leave Toronto with a win. Justin Duchscherer has been among the most reliable pitchers in all of baseball this year, and when the A's started out to a 3-0 lead behind him, it seemed it could actually happen. But it was not meant to be, as the A's are finding new ways to lose. As Comcast Sports Net helpfully told us, this was the first time in Oakland A's history that the team has been swept in three consecutive series of three games or more. Now, tails between their legs, the A's head to Detroit.
As fans of a team that's doing so poorly, even getting optimistic about potential for a win can hurt as it's dashed away. Duchscherer didn't have his best stuff tonight, running over the 100 pitch mark in a short five-inning stint that saw him give up a four spot in the fourth. And Jerry Blevins, his replacement just mocked us in the sixth, managing to give up two runs without the benefit of a hit. How did that work exactly? Try a walk, another walk, and then a throwing error and then the third walk to load the bases, followed by a hit by pitch that scored one, and finally a sac fly.
But at least he didn't give up any hits, right?
Speaking of not giving things up, the aforementioned Zigster extended his scoreless streak to 35 innings to start his career. Pretty soon, maybe we'll start hearing about the A's old nemesis Orel Hershiser? Or not. But at this point, he's a lone bright spot on what's become a very dark clubhouse.
Let me add one more thing - seeing Ryan Sweeney get drilled in the 9th is no fun. This is a year that's no longer about 2008, but it's about the youngsters who will perform for us in upcoming years, Sweeney being among the most promising. Do not hit him, please. Do not injure our guys in the 9th inning of a get-away game. It is not acceptable.
So the good streak is at 35. And our bad one is at 10. Until tomorrow, A's!
0 recs | 166 comments
Your 2008 Oakland Athletics
Giving nearly hopeless teams one last gasp (next up – the Tiggers).
doctorK - August 7, 2008
whats our all time losing streak record?
anyone know?
FIRESALE - August 7, 2008
Hopefully
this is not some great cosmic rebalancing for our 20 win streak. I don’t think my fragile baseball heart could endure it.
OptimistPrime - August 8, 2008
So only 10 more to go. I can tolerate that.
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
Forgot to give props to our boy Ziggy!
I got too caught up in my “Fire Geren now!” rant.
I’m okay, really. Afterall, “We’ve only just begun…..”
mrod - August 7, 2008
To live!
White shoes and Ziggy posts!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
We'll start out walking
and learn to run.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Sorry,
Okay. I’m done.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Hey lets look on the bright side, they scored more than 1 run
justarebelheart - August 7, 2008
Always Look On The Bright Side of Life!
(whistles) I’m very musical tonight.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Always look on the bright side of death....
[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
gregorymark - August 7, 2008
Life's piece of shit,
when your team can’t hit.
Always look on…
Nico - August 7, 2008
On The Bright Side Of Life
(whistles)
Bobby Crosby blows’ in case nobody knows
Why’s he always hafta hit in Toronto?
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
You’ll see it’s all a show
Leave ‘em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
gregorymark - August 8, 2008
Look at the bright side...
There’s only 2 months left in the season.
brenarlo - August 7, 2008
And preseason football starts tomorrow!
Go Raiders!!!!!
mrod - August 7, 2008
Wooohooo!
I am there baby!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Nice!
You go girl!
mrod - August 7, 2008
So this is like going from bad to worse.
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
We'll see.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
and righteous grass season ends!
batgirl - August 8, 2008
Yup. The tarps came off the other day.
It made me sad.
pam5981 - August 8, 2008
doctorK - August 7, 2008
that must be a sleeping pill
javaball - August 7, 2008
It's for The Big Sleep
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
I'll take 10
Joey C. - August 8, 2008
A permanent solution to a short term problem
Trainman - August 7, 2008
I've got a new drug.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
One that won't make me nervous!
Wond’rin’ what to do!
One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with yoooooou….
< /huey >
oblique - August 7, 2008
Love Huey!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Price, you're priceless
monkeyball - August 8, 2008
Hey
Are you really a doctor? Can you prescribe some of that for me?
;-)
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
I'm busy now.
Please leave a message, and I’ll medicate you after the tone.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
"Your neurosis IS important to us...please stand by..."
Nico - August 7, 2008
Stand By . , , Stand by . . .
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Sorry folks
I don’t take Medicare
doctorK - August 7, 2008
OMG!
I’m laughing my f-ing ass off! Thank you!
mrod - August 7, 2008
Blame Canada!
MobiusKlein - August 7, 2008
Oh Canada!
Someone, please help me!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
If it's any consolation
The A’s are finally getting national attention. This loss is, as of right now, on the front page of the on-line NY Times.
richwol1 - August 7, 2008
CSN has a 21-year-old Gnats' game on
I’m not sure, but it sounds like Joe Morgan was the play-by-play guy.
doctorK - August 7, 2008
I saw that as well...
Those Giants were actually likeable. (In hindsight)
louismg - August 7, 2008
It was Joe Morgan
They just showed a shot of the broadcast booth.
doctorK - August 7, 2008
The last time the Giants were likeable.
gregorymark - August 7, 2008
You must mean the NY Giants...
...the SF Giants never were likable.
UncleLeo - August 8, 2008
Other good news
We scored 4 runs! Woo Hoo.
Arcman - August 7, 2008
Wow!
Most since when
MobiusKlein - August 7, 2008
Tune in to Buan
to listen to Robert Buan say, “Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah…......”. I’m sorry, is that rude?
mrod - August 7, 2008
Buan's singing the Canadian national anthem??
oblique - August 7, 2008
No
but close to it…..
mrod - August 7, 2008
Ha!
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
Oh no!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Oh no?
I was so thankful for WC’s “ha”—I figured it deserved at least that! But..why the negation?
oblique - August 7, 2008
I said that because
Its been stuck in m head all night.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Hey Flashfire!
From the other thread…......”If the A’s are not gonna fire Geren, can Lew Wollf trade Billy Beane for a GM to be named later?”......
mrod - August 7, 2008
I'd hope not
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
It's a joke yo.
Yeesh!
mrod - August 7, 2008
This rather mysterious T-shirt design caught my eye
I (stink), As (does) Oakland?
I Ass Oakland? They certainly are assing me back.
Or is the MLB shop implying that this team’s heart has been ripped out and traded to the Cubs?
Englishmajor - August 7, 2008
A's = Love
Right?
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
I think it's A's = got mugged by a hooker in
Sincerely,
Reztips
Nico - August 7, 2008
Is toille his 1st name?
Trainman - August 7, 2008
uniform #Enin?
monkeyball - August 7, 2008
doctorK - August 7, 2008
Awesome.
Elvez - August 7, 2008
Where can I purchase that?
justarebelheart - August 8, 2008
Let's Go for 20-Straight
Seriously.
Colorado Fan - August 7, 2008
They could achieve that without trying
LOL
Trainman - August 7, 2008
More positives...
with Zieglers streak at 35 his trade value is at an all-time high. This is an ideal time for GM of the year Beane to trade him for two mid-level single A players with mediocre upsides.
jdub69 - August 7, 2008
No thanks
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
I can't bear that thought.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
But he's using up his service time left and right
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
But yeah, I sense sarcasm
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
As long as they're pitching prospects that we can spin later
for more pitching prospects, I’m on board.
Nico - August 7, 2008
BB is good at that
But can we have some hitters?
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
No
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
Yeah
denied!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
I'd support trading Ziegler now.
He’s overachieving mightily. If some GM would bit, why not?
skutch - August 7, 2008
bite, that is...
skutch - August 7, 2008
But only for an AN blogger
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
He's the next "DFA" just waiting to happen.
UncleLeo - August 8, 2008
Trade him for a pitcher who can "burn innings."
gregorymark - August 7, 2008
Bite this!
Just kidding….Ziggs is staying put for sure.
mrod - August 7, 2008
Don't be so sure.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Good news from Midland -
Josh Outman started and went 5 sparkling innings:
5 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. (That’s 9 innings in two starts with 0 BBs.)
Nico - August 7, 2008
An Outman
That can get the outs?
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Ka-Pow!
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
Double Whammy!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
A pitcher named Outman
That’s like a proctologist named Assman.
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
One of My Post Names
is Hotglasshole
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Wow!
Now that is sexy…........!
mrod - August 7, 2008
I know
But it has meaning to me.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Sounds deep.
pam5981 - August 7, 2008
I'm a hot glass girl
and an asshole, so . . . not really
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
So...you're beautiful, but fragile?
oblique - August 7, 2008
I'm pretty
but bad tempered
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
In other words
you know how much you can get away with.
It’s been an interesting 10 (or so) years for me, getting progressively less attractive and hence better behaved….
(sorry…I’m a philosophical drunk)
oblique - August 7, 2008
While I
get better looking, as I get older.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Do you also become more obnoxious?
oblique - August 7, 2008
Apparently I have to you.
Its a joke. If you knew me, you wouldn’t say that.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
No, no...
I was just drawing the parallel to my earlier comment—no implied judgment!
oblique - August 8, 2008
Kramer?
Flashfire - August 7, 2008
Nice!
mrod - August 7, 2008
Fire John McCain Now!
danh - August 7, 2008
Can McCain hit?
gregorymark - August 7, 2008
With a runner at second and nobody out, sure -
always hits to the right.
Nico - August 7, 2008
HaHa!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Contrasted with Obama...
...who’s a switch hitter.
gregorymark - August 7, 2008
+2
Gallagher's Watermelons - August 7, 2008
By the way, Blevins's 1/3 went
HBP, K, BB, BB, HBP, SF
skutch - August 7, 2008
That looks like 2/3
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
SF means he was traded to the Giants after the last HBP.
oblique - August 7, 2008
Yessir, the correction is corrected...Devine's SF.
skutch - August 7, 2008
Raul Ibanez beats the Rays
with a walk off bomb.
God, has he been hot of late
I am rooting for the Rays so this pissed me off a little
Trainman - August 7, 2008
That's great!
The A’s have picked up another game on the M’s for that elusive last place finish! Great job!
Coach Cleats - August 7, 2008
LOL
I wasn’t thinking of that.
We have a good chance of doing that.
still on pace for 7 wins for the rest of the season. We have won a fraction over 10 percent of our second half games.
67 games in second half and 2 of 19 is about 7.05 wins if my math is correct.
Trainman - August 7, 2008
Good chance?
I don’t think there’s a chance in hell in WON’T happen.
sprtsnwyn - August 8, 2008
Wake me up when the All Star Break is over
danh - August 7, 2008
Don't get ahead of yourself -
We still have that tough Angels series before the break. New guy Gallagher’s going in the opener, should be great!
Nico - August 7, 2008
Remember how awesome that was?
...
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
I remember it like it was only three wins ago
Nico - August 7, 2008
It's like dog years or something
Or for every A’s loss I lose seven days off my life expectancy. The way they’re going I’m going to pass away by the end of the season.
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
No Blez
You’ll be strong like Ox.
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Angels have explosive offense, but Street will shut them down!
gregorymark - August 8, 2008
Wake Me Up
Before Its Over
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
Wake me up
Before you go-go
Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
SwisherThresher - August 7, 2008
Yeah
What I meant!
Wake me up
Before you go-go
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
I was going to post "Shake me, wake me...when it's over....", but then Wham!
WaddellCanseco - August 7, 2008
what was up with Ellis tonight?
he was playing like his head was elsewhere. either he’s sick or his boy is (or he’s sick of losing).
skutch - August 7, 2008
He was unusually out of it, it's true
There is certainly no joy in his step right now, for whatever reason(s). Perhaps the losing, the contract talks hanging over him, unicorn taxes?
Nico - August 7, 2008
that was the first time I've seen one of the A's
play like he doesn’t give a shit (this year). Because it’s Ellis, I assume there must be another explanation.
skutch - August 7, 2008
Contract talks should wait until the offseason
That’s for sure.
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
Then again
We might not re-sign him if we waited that long.
Tyler Bleszinski - August 7, 2008
You're debating yourself
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
yeah he is a master debater
A'sfaninNC - August 8, 2008
Seems like
our boys are seriously affected by contract and trade talks this year! Street, Ellis, Embree, Duke. Whenever its mentioned they seem to tank big time.
A'sian - August 8, 2008
I Can Feel It
Ellis in the night, tonight, hold on!
lynnzgal - August 7, 2008
What the A's need is a good exorcism
JediLeroy - August 7, 2008
how do I turn it off? I'm unable to look away!
skutch - August 7, 2008
More to the point, wtf is the cat watching?
OldhamA - August 8, 2008
That is creepy
justarebelheart - August 8, 2008
mikev - August 8, 2008
that's an urklecism
(And, no, I do not want to see an urklegasm.)
monkeyball - August 8, 2008
Now people can understand why Duke's trade value was low
His ERA is now on an inexorable march towards finishing somewhere around 3.50, and other teams did not want to pay for his first-half performance while getting a less impressive second-half performance. Hopefully we can work out a two-year extension with him unless some team wants to blow Billy away in the offseason.
BlameChannel53 - August 7, 2008
Street trade in the works?
sfgate link
i wonder if we could get someone like buddy groom for him..
danh - August 7, 2008
No! I want at least three Mikes.
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
HIRE MACHA NOW!
A'sian - August 8, 2008
Its amazing what a few trades could do to a team's psyche...
I never thought it could get worse than last year’s second half but this is the worst!
Oaktownflav - August 8, 2008
It can get worse than this. Remember 1979.
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
It's like the team woke up during the All-Star break and realized....
...”Hey, we’re not that good!”
gregorymark - August 8, 2008
Was that this year, or last year?
Philip Christy - August 8, 2008
Charley Finley has come back as............BILLY BEANE!!!!
Early to mid ‘70s … AWESOME.
Late ‘70s …. HELL!
2000-2006 … VERY VERY GOOD.
2007-2009 … WELCOME BACK TO HELL!
Different era, different situation, same outcome: From filet mignon to 75% lean ground beef.
Like 99.9% of everyone who posts, we are A’s fans no matter how bad we are. I will ALWAYS be an A’s fan. I have been for 34years. I know it will turn around, someday.
PEACE.
OakFaninFL - August 8, 2008
well the game thread was good for something
apparently its used to keep people from committing suicide by showing them how bad life really could be if you were a A’s fan these days
http://shysterball.blogspot.com/2008/08/and-that-happened_08.html
Blue Jays 6, A’s 4: I was thinking about committing suicide last night, so I called one of those hotlines. I thought I’d be greeted by some volunteer telling me about how much I had to live for and all of that jazz, but it didn’t happen. Instead, she just told me to go over to a game thread at Athletics Nation if I wanted to see true suffering. So I turned the gas off on the oven and gave it a try. I’ll admit, after seeing that kind of misery, I do feel much better about life.
closetasfan - August 8, 2008
Yikes
We are now Mariners fans.
Philip Christy - August 8, 2008
Cool - I've always wanted a player named Yuniesky
Nico - August 8, 2008
Nah. I want an Ichiro.
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
You might have to be satisfied with this
Flashfire - August 8, 2008
Ichiroll?
Hey, there’s a really great report on types of sushi here!!
oblique - August 8, 2008
Heh, nice. But #53 on the A's must be even faster than Ichiro.
Not only was he chasing down the ball in the corner, he was waiting for the throw to third.
Flashfire - August 8, 2008
They should have worn the road grays
WaddellCanseco - August 8, 2008
A's have a really good chance of extending this streak today.
With the Tigers in survival mode, and the A’s mailing it in, plus the fact that Dallas Braden is pitching (remember last year when Braden gave up two homers to Mags Ordonez…in the same inning!), I really like the A’s odds of extending this streak to 11 games. If Seattle can somehow beat the Rays again tonight, the A’s can pick up another game on the M’s.
Coach Cleats - August 8, 2008
Don't forget that Braden has lost 8 pounds in the last week,
and that Oakland is facing Kenny Rogers.
Nico - August 8, 2008
theoretical question
if we could get a win today but ziggy gives up a run, would we take that at this point?
closetasfan - August 8, 2008
ouch
monkeyball - August 8, 2008
He's made the record, so I'll take it.
He’s bound to give up a run sooner or later, so it may as well be during a win.
MobiusKlein - August 8, 2008
No, the A's should lose every game on the schedule from here on out.
What a question.
SwampyD - August 8, 2008
After he passes Mike Torrez, sure.
Flashfire - August 8, 2008
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.