I am of the (humble) opinion that there are way too many non-A's related items on this front page (memo to the Home Nine: make the playoffs next season, or else).
So before the likes of Lackey and Jeter take over tonight, I wanted to open up this thread for all things A's, and A's things only.
Who is your team MVP for '09? Favorite moment? Biggest surprise? Disappointment? Favorite AN Day dish? (Hmm, too easy, perhaps). Hopes for 2010? Road trips for the coming season?
Do what you do AN. Post a pic, reminisce, dump a link, swoon over Sweeney, count the days ‘til Spring Training, or tell your fellow AN'ers how much you dig them (please pick me; I'm needy today).
First one to mention any other team without the words "when the A's beat the" in front of it will be sentenced to ZigFan31's basement.
Oh, wait.
0 recs | 78 comments
Can we have a clock
on the front page with a countdown to Spring Training 2010?
alox - October 22, 2009
Can we have a good team
preferably starting Spring Training 2010?
Zonis - October 22, 2009
I don't care about starting Spring Training
I want a good team starting the regular season.
I don’t want them all getting injured in Arizona….
gigglingone - October 22, 2009
Mine was
seeing the A’s live again, although it was only spring training and although Scott Hairston smacked two HRs against the A’s.
elcroata - October 22, 2009
I only went to one A's game this season
(I’m a Chicago NRAF), but it was this one: box score
I was slightly late getting to the game, so I hurried to my seat right as Sweeney singled to load the bases with no one out. Hairston struck out (of course), but this was quickly followed by a Suzuki sac fly, and then Cust and Ellis going back-to-back. With two outs in the first inning, Ozzie pulled his rookie starter, who was already getting boos from the Chicago crowd.
The rest of the game was pretty smooth. Tomko cruised for most of his 5.1 innings, though it sort of bugged me when Kotsay homered off him. I moved down to some empty seats right near first base in the ninth inning and got a good view of Kilby throwing a perfect inning with two Ks.
colin - October 22, 2009
FSU at Comiskey... nice job!
The reason the White Sox are my least favorite team is that they are (or at least used to be) such fascist sticklers about it that it makes me makes me makes me want to hate them, baby!
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
I am excited that two of my favorite, EX - A's, are going to the World Series
It looks like Nick Swisher is going with the Yankees and Blanton is already on his way with the Phillies.
What is fun is those two were best friends on the A’s and now they are going to match up in the World Series.
Of all the players the A’s have traded away in the last few years.. players many miss, I like these tow the best, along with Haren. Cargon and Street with Colorado, Eithier with the Dodgers are also some that look good since they left… althought I think Cargon is the better player for the Rockies.
Since I really am not a fan of the Yankees I will be rooting for Blanton and the Phillies in the WS.
Eastbayjim - October 22, 2009
Stairs.
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Elevators?
Elevators.
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
This obviously proves that moneyball works and Beane is a genius.
The 2 players from that draft are the ones in the WS?
A'sian - October 22, 2009
Mark Teahen was also in the playoffs this year for the...
Oh, wait.
danmerqury - October 22, 2009
Team MVP
Given the team won 75 games and was never really in contention, I’m opting for consistency.
Kennedy was a nice addition but his defense was godawful. Ellis didn’t hit the first half, but he did the second, but his defense was substandard (for him). Sweeney came on in the 2nd half and had a nice year. Holliday gave us a litle over a half season of decent play and saved the better stuff for the Redbirds. Suzuki was pretty solid, but after a nice start, went through a pretty long hitting trough before perking up again near the end. Cust was a 235ish Cust. Anderson showed exactly why the organization and a lot of other people are so high on him with a nice progression and very effective pitching during the second half. Wuertz and Ziegler were pretty darn solid for most of the year, Ziggy after a bit of a rocky start.
But the guy who flat-out performed from beginning to end, in sickness and health, in snow, rain, wind and hail, and should be (but won’t be, witness the Sporting News selecting Beckham) the AL ROY, was our Oakland A’s 2009 team MVP: Andrew Bailey.
eliot123 - October 22, 2009
Rickey Night
arrived too late for a jersey and behold! had to park across the aquaduct in overflow parking. never had to do that before. Game was sold out, soooooooooooo awesome to see!!…sigh, a sell out.
Ended onthe low note of Sweeney striking out looking on three pitches as a pinch hitter for Ellis (for Ellis!). Quintissential (contemporary) A’s though!!
my_cat_max - October 22, 2009
I'm using Rickey's career stats year over year
in a statistics project I have to do in my urban planning grad school program.
Go Rickey!
cityplANner - October 22, 2009
I'm using Rickey's career stats to mournfully reflect upon how utterly I've wasted my youth.
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
I usually use Miller High Life
colin - October 22, 2009
that's how I wasted my youth.
….you been reading my biography?
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Now that's a book I'd like to read
Chapter 4….The cough syrup years
sirbed - October 22, 2009
....furry little creatures patter acrooss my feet at night wihle I try to sleep.
I fear they are plotting against me.
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Chapter 6
Florida or Hell?….They’re one in the same dear reader
sirbed - October 22, 2009
7:45am.
After peeling myself off the bed from sweating all night, despite sleeping in the nude, with a fan aimed right at my genitals, I decided to take a shower. It is indeed a miraculous feeling to be wetter upon leaving the shower than the time spent inside the shower.
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Chapter 13
Signs signs everywhere there’s signs
sirbed - October 22, 2009
I would totally buy that book.
muffinpryde - October 22, 2009
I'm ghostwriting it right now,
as we speak…
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
Rickey's Jersey Retirement Ceremony
After arriving back from Cooperstown the week before,“Rickey Weekend” at the Coliseum was definitely the highlight of the trip. I didn’t get there at 6am (or whenever you needed to get there for a jersey), but I did manage to get one of the banners from the Sunday game. Great speech by Rickey, both in Oakland and in Cooperstown!
ManOfSteal - October 22, 2009
ZigFan31's Basement
It has to be more fun than this English class. Anyway, my favorite part about the A’s were the game threads.
Rated-R Superstar - October 22, 2009 via mobile
HAHAHAHAHAH JOKE'S ON YOU, ZIGFAN DOESN'T HAVE A BASEMENT!!!!!!!
mikev - October 22, 2009
And you know this how?
skigurl - October 22, 2009
I plead the fifth.
mikev - October 22, 2009
I drank the fifth.
67MARQUEZ - October 22, 2009
So that
JLaff - October 22, 2009
's where it went
(why did it cut me off randomly?)
JLaff - October 22, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTER.
mikev - October 22, 2009
thanks!
JLaff - October 22, 2009
You've reached your limit?
alox - October 22, 2009
ZF31 lives in the Alamo?
calgbear - October 22, 2009
damn, i was gonna talk about those guys across the bay
hoping I would get the basement plus more
fruitattack - October 22, 2009
um... y'know that dominatrix down there in the basement...
thassa man!
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
where to begin...
discovering AN, the game threads, my favorite Rivercat before the haircut, Nico’s comments, all of you ♥
OakA'sHoney - October 22, 2009
My A's high-low came in back to back games, early in the season
First, the high point was the walk off infield squibber in the 53rd inning against Boston (seriously, I was worried about getting the train; one of the more inebriated members of our party shouted down to the on deck circle that they should get a move on as we were going to miss the last BART, which drew a wry smile from whichever player was standing there (it’s a long time ago, am I supposed to remember details??)).
The next day, following on from this, the A’s lost the Wednesday lunchtime game in about 20 minutes and were nearly no-hit.
Actually, the moment I pretty much consigned this season to ‘try and enjoy the little things’ was Nate Schierholtz’ inside the park HR. It was a dreaded sunny day, I was walking through the Mission, and it’s the nearest I’ve come to getting mad with Jack Cust.
Other highlights: – The first time I saw Cahill throw his knuckle curve. I know he hangs it sometimes (a lot?), but man, it’s a sight to behold when it works.
Also – the first photo that was posted on here of Chris Carter got me pretty excited, too.
Also, HA! Red Sox
bobnothing - October 22, 2009
a few links
Karina Smirnoff Spotted Kissing San Francisco Giants Pitcher Brad Penny
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00028155.html
http://twitter.com/modelangelH Does rickey have a twitter?
http://twitter.com/Jeremybarfield
http://shawnhaviland.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/IvyLeagueToMLB
http://twitter.com/kennysmalls
Asfan4ever723 - October 22, 2009
I know I sound a bit like a broken record here
but I love Haviland’s blog
bobnothing - October 22, 2009
Dear 67 Marquez
Since my giving away non-A’s tickets ( Warriors & Raiders) to AN members is offensive, I will in stead give them away on Craigslist so I will no long offend your sensibilities.
Imaseasonticketholder - October 22, 2009
I think he was referring more to the gamethreads on the front page
not involving the A’s…
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Thanks pal.
67MARQUEZ - October 22, 2009
Not your pal, bud.
mikev - October 22, 2009
I'm not your buddy, guy!
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
Not your guy, champ.
mikev - October 22, 2009
I'm not your champ, buddy!
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
alright... enough with the Canuckery!
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
eh?
Gaijin_Suketto - October 23, 2009
Highlight: opening day!
We had a pretty good team on paper (well at least some hope on paper) and it was sweet to see Chavez and Giambi in the infield, however briefly. Then things went downhill.
A'sian - October 22, 2009
Spring Training next year, Im there!!
The A’s might not have made the post season this year but I had tons of fun mocking and crushing the dreams of all my Angels fan, friends. Not too shabby!
Amnesiac - October 22, 2009
Highlights of the year
The 15-10 comeback against the slegnA in Anaheim. That was sweet and a moral victory on so many levels. Unfortunately, it was our last hurrah of the season.
I also got to see the A’s clobber the Twinkies in Minneapolis on 9/11 with a smattering of other A’s fans scattered through the homerdome. They especially liked it when I stood up and bowed after we made it into double-digit runs…lol.
cuppingmaster - October 22, 2009
My highlight of this year
Was the NL west swing. Living down in SD, I got to see local games of my A’s and complete my “tour” of all the California ballparks. Nothing like being in an away game and having the majority of the stadium chanting “Let’s go Oak-land!” ( At Petco and not Dodger Stadium of course…haha ).
rrryanc - October 22, 2009
Highlights
1. GAME THREADS.
2. Every time we beat the slegnA (not enough of these, sadly).
3. The AN
DayNight game, even though I had to miss the 9th inning (CARRRRRLOSSSSSSS).4. The retirement of Rickey’s number.
5. The 14-13 win over the Twinkies after being down 13-2.
6. Going to PNC Park and Citizens Bank Park.
The biggest highlights were the three times I was able to meet many of you in person at fANfest and the two tailgates we were able to attend.
doctorK - October 22, 2009
2009 A's MVP? Suzuki
OaklandSi - October 22, 2009
A's MVP?
I don’t know their names but I nominate those brave souls who went to all 81 home games at the coliseum.
sirbed - October 22, 2009
The Best times were the times that we all spent together at both of the AN tailgates...
Getting to know Marquez and Niece, DFA, Imasaeasonticketholder, Lynn, Mikev, Baseballgirl and baseball parents, Berry Jo….and everyone else that I am missing…it was great times and great food and I cant wait for next year!
As far as the team goes, I really want to be super enthusiastic about next year but I just dont find myself jumping up and down with excitement, thinking that next year will be our year, hopefully they will prove me wrong. But win or lose I always stick with them, I mean isn’t that the point of being a fan.
Go A’s!!!
wacchampions - October 22, 2009
THE 2014 OAKLAND ATHLETICS
LA WILL SAVE THE A’s!
Boom! There you go: Raiders move back to LA, we rebuild the Coliseum back to glory and make it a BASEBALL park again. Also by 2014 we should be in the middle of a 10 year championship run led by Carter, Wallace, Anderson, Bailey and Braden!
PL78 - October 22, 2009
I like your vision of the future. and wish to support your cause
do you have a tshirt or cap I can buy?
bobnothing - October 22, 2009
Uh no
The Raiders belong in Oakland period
sirbed - October 22, 2009
Uh no.
The Raiders destroyed one of the nicest /baseball/ stadiums in the major leagues. Fuck em.
mikev - October 22, 2009
Go Raiders!
sirbed - October 22, 2009
fuck al davis
and his goddamn miserable shitty abomination of a franchise. i will gladly hand over the raiders if it means the A’s not moving.
PL78 - October 22, 2009
I disagree
Flashfire - October 22, 2009
Go Raiders part 2!
sirbed - October 22, 2009
Never should've been allowed back in Oakland
Flashfire - October 22, 2009
Sorry Flash but the Raiders belong in Oakland
and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
sirbed - October 22, 2009
And that's a shame
Flashfire - October 22, 2009
LOL at this thought
NOW WELCOME YOUR 2014 LOS ANGELES 49ERS!
doctorK - October 22, 2009
I enjoyed watching Anderson progress over the course of the year.
I look forward to having a fresh start in March and April with hope of a special year. Even it only last a month or two into the season.
zaniac75 - October 22, 2009
A lot of green and some gold.
I started the season off at Phoenix Muni where Jake Peavy was dealing and Scott “Killer Croc” Hairston belted two home runs (oh yeah, and some guy named Nomar did too).
I also went to game two of the season in “Los Angeles” with AN and saw our lads win, and made my way to Oakland for Ricky banner day against Toronto where Vin Mazzaro was allergic to the strike zone. I watched numerous games on Extra Innings and it was nice to see the team play better after trimming off the veteran bloat.
Here’s hoping to a continued rise in the level of play, the development of talent and playing for something more than spoiler next fall.
A's Fan in LA - October 22, 2009
I'm disappointed in the lot of you.
None of you said I was your favorite part of the 2009 A’s season.
Leopold Bloom - October 22, 2009
(with a gun pointed at my head)
uh…Mr. Bloom is the best part of the 2009 season for the A’s….(boom!)
sirbed - October 22, 2009
My only two games this year were Rickey night and AN Day
Flashfire - October 22, 2009
My favorite moment was the comeback win against the Twins
“Hey! if Holliday hits a grand slam it will be ti . . . Holy Crap!”
“Wow! We could actually win this ga . . . CUST!”
“Oh NO! the ball gets away! Kurt it’s behind you! It’s behind you! Look out, he’s trying to score . . . oh crap he sco . . . no wait, HE’S OUT! I can’t freaking believe it!”
I also enjoyed getting front rows seats next to the A’s bullpen for half price on stubhub and seeing the second to last game with my Dad. Too bad they lost.
I know the Giambi signing didn’t really work out like we hoped it would but I remember being really excited when he hit his first HR of the season, great moment in a vacuum (not thinking about the rest of the year). I still think Nomar should have been dumped and the A’s kept G. I don’t understand why Giambi couldn’t have been the crappy pinch hitter that was kept on the bench all year, at least they would have got a few big flies out of it.
My pick for MVP of the 2009 A’s would be Rajai Davis. I know he didn’t get regular playing time all year but he brought so much life to the team in the second half. This season would have been a whole lot worse without him.
Andrew Bailey was great and deserves the ROY but a great closer isn’t as valuable on a crappy team. Although with the crappy offense the A’s had it was very valuable. He should also be the A’s Cy Young winner.
Kurt Suzuki deserves a tip of the cap for doing well for most of the year.
Hey 67M, how about a A’s MVP poll?
micdog2001 - October 22, 2009
Haven't even made it to the World Series
and I already miss A’s baseball.
day-to-day - October 22, 2009
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