Missed it by THAT much. Actually, I missed it by more than that.
Despite yet another attempted Lazarus act in the bottom of the 9th, in which they plated 2 and brought the tying run up in the person of Nomar "Look Back In Ang" Garciaparra, the A's fell to the ALDS-bound Angels, ensuring that they will lose the season series to the LAA. It was an evening of despites as Oakland pitchers managed to fan 14 Halo hitters, including a career high 10 from Gio Gonzalez (who fell to 6-7 to close out 2009); still the A's were effectively nowhere near in the game until the very end.
I couldn't find a pic of Kendry I liked, so I used one of someone named Kendra Morales instead.
Although a (cheap) Juan Rivera HR, which cleared the wall by the width of a Geraldo Rivera moustache hair, was a factor, it really all came down to a botched throw in the 2nd by Cliff Pennington, which turned an almost-certain Kurt Suzuki pickoff of Mike "taking a quick" Napoli (who was on 2nd) into a double-steal for the Angels, with Kendry Morales being awarded the steal of home on the front end of the play. Replays were inconclusive as to whether Zook tagged him on the shoe before he touched the plate, but it's all academic if Pennington sets his feet before coming home with the throw. So yet another game (a season-high 5th L in a row now for the 2nd time in 2009) turns on shoddy, unfundamental defense... who'd have ever guessed such a thing from a team that may as well have Caroline Kennedy and Chad Pennington filling the left side of the infield at this point, at least in terms of glovework.
We'll try it all again tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 as Nico takes you home for 2009... watch him, he might try to good-night kiss you on the porch ;)
0 recs | 36 comments
the angels were
7-14 with ball in paly against gio.
Future Ed - October 2, 2009
okay, left early, coming back late to see the outcome. hmmm, whatever
watching Rockies game now. go rocks.
ak_A - October 2, 2009
a kiss from nico on the front porch?
(blush)
OakA'sHoney - October 2, 2009
Does nico have a fill-in sister for that porch kiss.
ElQuesoCapitan - October 2, 2009
yes, Niccola.
ak_A - October 2, 2009
Cue the man with the horn...
“Nic…cola!!!”
Nico - October 3, 2009
No, but you can ask Cindi for one.
danmerqury - October 2, 2009
Street is in for bottom of the ninth with one run lead.
ak_A - October 2, 2009
Just got back from the game
Snoozefest except for a brief thrill in the ninth.
I have tickets for tomorrow’s game in 126 and Sunday in 225….must be an A’s-aholic…
So… Will the A’s win more games in 2009 than they did in 2008? They’ll need to win both remaining games in order to do that.
OaklandSi - October 2, 2009 via mobile
I'm glad I brought my green K to the game tonight.
It worked out beautifully. Too bad we couldn’t get the win guys.
Boonee - October 2, 2009
Not to knock Suzuki, but Jason Kendall would have put his face infront of the plate.
skalordes - October 2, 2009 via mobile
In other news, I'm surprised to hear about Kevin Towers being fired.
The Padres have fallen into a prolonged trough at least a couple times over the last two decades, but I always felt this was due not so much to bad work on Towers’ part as unscrupulous ownership. Apparently Moorad/Garfinkel will carry on this tradition. Gaslamp Ball rumors have it that Depodesta has already been ruled out as a replacement and Grady Fuson may be following Towers out the door. I can’t imagine Depo would be too happy with being ruled out before the interview process has even begun.
Then there’s the situation in Toronto, meaning there could be quite a few former Oakland executives looking for a job in the near future. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t this make Beane the sole remaining GM to have played professionally?
Aufheben - October 2, 2009
Ken williams
Future Ed - October 2, 2009
Oh yeah,
How else would he have such a keen sense of “underachieving,” giving less than “100 per cent,” and playing without dignity? You have to play the game to understand these kind of intangibles.
Aufheben - October 2, 2009
intangibles
get you wilson betimit for FDLS, Ryan Sweeney, gio gonzalez
Future Ed - October 2, 2009
Just back from the game
The only novelty I have to report is that they played the theme from Law and Order while the umpires were being introduced. It made an entertaining counterpoint to the chorus of OH NO!.
On the food front, hot chocolate vendors (or at least the one who visited the bleachers, who I recognized as one of the most experienced of the vendors) are now carrying cans of whipped cream to enhance the experience. A nice touch, given the priciness of the cocoa in question.
I picked up some extra team photos and will have them at the tailgate on Sunday, or can figure out how much it would cost to mail them for NRAFs – my email is in my profile.
Nothing seems to be on sale in the team stores. I stopped on my way out to buy a bumper sticker (I bought this car in July but I’ve been forgetting to shop for A’s accessories until now). Then I ran into the Dogfather and Dogma. Then I visited the ladies lounge before the drive home. Still, it was only about 25 minutes after the end of the game by the time I made my way out to the BART plaza exit, but two security guards were on the point of locking up and they were both quite rude about informing me that I should have been out already.
Englishmajor - October 2, 2009
A few Giambi, Holliday and Buck jerseys / T-shirts are on sale for half-price
at the big store. Whoopee! :-(
Miata71 - October 3, 2009
Didn't get to see the game
But my roommate’s girlfriend went with some friends (she’s an Angels fan) and she told me that they handed out posters of the whole team? and that she was going to bring me one, knowing how big of an A’s fan I am, but hers was covered in liquid by the end of the game. Bad night.
Helloooo 1st - October 3, 2009
Rain? beer? vomit?
iglew - October 3, 2009
She didn't specify
But I’m guessing beer, soda, or blood.
Helloooo 1st - October 3, 2009
wow posters, eh?
did they have Bobby Crosby’s dad holding his son’s hand in the picture?
emperor nobody - October 3, 2009
Zing!
Philip Christy - October 3, 2009
Yes, I have a whole bunch of the poster-size team photo
I picked up the ones that people left in the bleachers that had escaped being covered in anything, so if you badly want one, let me know.
Englishmajor - October 3, 2009
perhaps tomorrow at AN Tailgate?!?!!?!
mikev - October 3, 2009
I emailed you!
lynnzgal - October 3, 2009
Thats generous of you
But I’m not too torn up over not having one, just disappointed she couldn’t have been more like you and scavenged another, less dirty one. Thank you though.
Helloooo 1st - October 3, 2009
e to the n
You’re kinda good at this whole game thread thing, aren’t you?
DyeLongJustice - October 3, 2009
O/T: Billy's disciple fired
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4528183
Bad Free Agent signings!!!!
Interesting.
Trainman - October 3, 2009
I like how players "don't like playing for Cito Gaston anymore"
(reported by KK on last night’s broadcast). Very George Steinbrenner relationship Blue Jays players seem to have with Cito: “You’re great! We don’t want you! Can you come back? We love playing for you! We hate playing for you!”
Nico - October 3, 2009
It's surprising how bad JP Ricciardi was.
You’d think one of Billy’s underlings would understand financial restraint, or at least wise spending. And yet…BJ Ryan. Frank Thomas. Alex Rios. Vernon Wells. He gives out bad contracts like candy.
danmerqury - October 3, 2009
Good guy, too. I met him during my minor league ball tenure
and found him to be both bright and friendly. Not sure why he was prone to making so many blunders but it’s hard to say he did otherwise.
Nico - October 3, 2009
He was kinda forced to make those signings, was he not?
I mean, he would have been fucking crucified had he let Wells go, and he was STRONGLY urged to go after Ryan (and AJ Burnett) really, really hard.
mikev - October 3, 2009
Vernon Wells signed a 7 year/$126 MM contract.
He got paid $10 million this year to put up a .718 OPS with the worst CF defense in the majors. He’s getting more than $20 million every year from 2011-2014. He’ll turn 36 the year his contract is up. Granted, he had an extremely steep decline immediately after signing the thing, but giving 7 years to a non-A-Rod or Pujols 29-year old is really, really dangerous.
danmerqury - October 3, 2009
Isn't Towers gone, too?
Those are two of Billy Beane’s favorite trade partners.
Forget about taking advantage of other GMs, but just assuming any trade is designed to be win-win, the guy who has most opportunity to trade has an advantage. Established trading relationships with other GMs are valuable, and Billy is losing some value this season.
iglew - October 3, 2009
Isn't Paul DePodesta one of the candidates for San Diego?
danmerqury - October 3, 2009
Is he? I heard the opposite.
I’m pretty sure the article I read stated that DePo would not be the replacement, but I can’t remember if that was reported by the team or just some commentator’s opinion.
I suppose the fact that a writer took the trouble to deny him by name suggests that he’s viewed as a candidate by somebody.
iglew - October 3, 2009
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