Athletics Nation

I try to avoid those whenever possible.

Those were good times

I was lucky (unlucky?) that my formative baseball years (age 9 and up) coincided with the great Oakland teams of ’88, ’89, and ’90, and my two favorite players, McGwire (because he played 1B and could bash) and Rickey (because he was was fast and strong and entertaining and an Oakland boy just like me!). Thanks for bringing those good memories back.

el generico - October 8, 2009 reply

McGwire was a childhood hero of mine

When he batted .201 in 1991 that was probably the first time I was tremendously disappointed in a public figure.

not to open a can of worms

But I am going to be dissapointed if he never makes the HoF. I just missed growing up during that time — I started following around 1992. Always liked Big Mac though.

Plus he looks like he gives really good hugs.

Which too many HoF voters don’t take the time to consider.

67MARQUEZ - October 8, 2009 reply

Rickey sure is loving that hug.

McGwire should have just started referring to himself in the third person

that would have cemeneted his HoF status

It looks like McGwire pretty much killed his HoF chances

I think acting like a moron in front of Congress was his kiss of death.

How is not incriminating oneself moronic?

seems pretty bright to me…

Would you rather he lied like Palmeiro?

It was his 'I'm not here to talk about the past' line

That was turned into a sound-bite and it made him look like a coward hiding behind the Fifth and like a fool. What was he exactly there to talk about, tax policy?

I do agree that he should have recited the text of the 5th...

rather than saying “I’m not here to talk about the past.”

no one would have cared back in the day

I can see why someone might not put him in for all the off-the-field stuff, but the fact remains is that he might have been the best pure power hitter ever. In additon, he consistently hit the ball farther than anyone else did.

Also, Lester vs Lackey?

UGH

still rooting against the slegnA

I have grudging respect for Lester, after the cancer and his recovery.

Red Sox and Angels are my two least favorite sports teams

I’m rooting for Anaheim this time around. Let’s get some real representation for AL West in October.

I like Scioscia.

I wish he were our manager.

-1

Just because he's always been on the wrong side

doesn’t mean he’s not a great warrior.

We’re likely talking about a Hall Of Fame quality manager here.

you're probably right

But it’s unfortunate he manages the red devil team

He is scum.

That is all.

he may be a good manager

but I don’t like whiney people, that’s wh I don’t like Davis Ortiz or Jorge posada

That is Scioscia's one fault...

sometimes he should shut up and prepare to fight another day.

But he’s a warrior, not a monk, and collateral damage happens.

RED FLAG!

Leopold Bloom - October 8, 2009 reply

PINK FLAG!

Black Flag!

I was thinking it would be a link to "TV Party," or "My War"

what a pleasant surprise…

I thought about that, but then

I do love Duchess Says a lot…

and thank you, doctor...

I had never heard of them…

I typed that very thing

then canceled because I didn’t want to confuse subtheads

True story, when I am in the car my 3 year old requests “danger” which is what he calls “Ex lion tamer” Usually he demands that it be louder. He also cries when it is over and asks for it again. “I want danger, daddy!”

This has been going on for about a month. Prior to that he wanted Dot dash. I have listened to that for a half hour straight going down the peninsula

Nice

On that basis alone, you sound like a Good Parent; at what age do you buy him his first guitar?

my wife plays drums

so does he.

I bought a kids' drum kit for a friend when they'd had their first child a couple of years ago

It’s fair to say, he’s ambivalent about it. Likes the musical development, not so keen on all the noise.

nice work, breeders.

speaking of Breeders, I’m sure the little tyke would love

“Cannonball.”

That has one of the best pauses in pop music...

Speaking of the Deals, my brother should be watching the Pixies around about nowish.

One of the more amusing things about the Pixies film was that every memeber of the band seems to have married a girl who looks like Kim Deal

dude!

I used to be in a band called “Daddy Fuckheart And The Living Light”

and we HAD a song called “Everybody Wants To Have Group Sex”

which contained the line

“Everybody wants to marry Kim Deal, but they get her f**ked up sister instead!”

I laughed out loud

Don't see enough Breeders references these days

thread bare today

Go Rockies! CarGon with the mad speed!

Fun day to apply for jobs

And watch baseball.

I concur

seems to have turned to winter overnight, too

Gotta love Fall

I do love The Fall.

let's try this again...

I do love The Fall.

I agree

so do I

+1

Actually, have you read Mark E Smith's autobiography yet?

I haven’t managed to get my hands on a copy. Which is a terrible state of affairs, really

not yet, but someday I will.

I hope it’s not as disjointed as the last few Fall tours have been.

I hear it straddles the line between fact and fiction rather easily

I’m pretty sure it’s fairly entertaining

but at least it’ll be the end of fire season.

No, that's next week

Think I'm rooting Rockies in this one.

But I like a lot of players on the Phillies. But they won last year, let someone else win.

I find it hard to root for the Rockies, being a Satanist and all.

Give me another club like the 86 Mets. Oh baby!

any score yet?

1-0 rockies.

woo hoo!

lol

it’s suppose to be read as long echo. But, thanks — I’m sure I’ll sneeze soon

ha! guess everyone is at lunch

you off soon too?

nice DP!

Man

whatever happened to protecting the plate?

3-0 rockies!

muy excellente

Booo

Ibanez didn’t just throw the ball into the ground

must be taking his fielding cues from eric patterson

MOAR LAWN DART

doing his best deion sanders celebratory endzone spike

I don't think this will ever not be funny

How could it not be?

Unless he died in a terrible ball throwing accident, which is highly unlikely.

who is that anyway?

Ibanez

It’s a very popular Lookout Landing gif

el generico - October 8, 2009 reply

Hey hey, what's going on, y'all?

That much, huh?

Nice!

A whole two minutes to reply!

Give people a chance.

Oh and yeah, not much :-P

Not the usual fast-paced thread action

All’s I’m sayin’ is all’s I’m sayin’.

lol

people are eating, I think

mmmm... pizza

rebus - October 8, 2009 reply

Cupcakes!!

Warming up!

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 via mobile reply

He's in the bullpen?

Or are they bringing him on to pinch hit

If the Phillies end up in the WS against the Yankees

I wanna see Swisher pitch to Blanton.

In some version of the future

this happens

Only if Blanton beans Swish.

Just because.

Cuppitycakes is in!

Rocking the high socks, too.

Looks like another uneventful game so far.

Cupcakes on the mound!!!

ZigFan31 - October 8, 2009 reply

hey! more people!

Hi ZF!

hey you...

ZigFan31 - October 8, 2009 reply

hey you

hi!

ZigFan31 - October 8, 2009 reply

rawr!

R-r-ripped to Right Field - how irritating

I miss the As radio announcers. This guy on ESPN radio is super irritating. He keeps saying that a ball is “r-r-ripped to right field,” which could mean anything from a single lined over the second baseman, a deep fly ball to the track, or a liner a few steps to the side. But he reacts the same way every time, so you have no idea what is actually going on.

Also, he doesn’t tell you where the pitch is when it is a ball, or what kind of pitch has been thrown. It’s either “in there for a strike” or “missed for ball two.”

paris7 - October 8, 2009 reply

If it's the same guy as last night he's terrible.

Paired with a guy called ‘Darling’.

yeah that darling guy never did squat for us

of course he didn't.

he was a pitcher, not a catcher.

rdrr

Booooooooooooo

Yoooouuuuuuurveeeeet!!!

sorry his name just lends itself to be yelled

GYMNASTICS

Gosh, this new version of Astro Boy looks dreadful

I prefer Star Boy and The Captain of Outer Space

I can't believe Hamels is out after five and 4-0 down

Isn’t he Mr. Clutch? How can he pitch so bad in October? He was World Series MVP! How is all this possible?

Someone call Brett Favre!

I think he's only got a fastball.

If he'd'a just bowled googly for a while he'd'a been alright.

How do they have the biggest crowd today and not during the WS last year?

More seats?

Nope. Slo mo did not change the outcome of that horrible play.

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 via mobile reply

must have missed that

did the throw go high or what?

Here come the Phillies

groan

was that groan you?

or the ~~Phillies coming~~ nevermind

LOL

This team doesn't need much, does it?

A bouncer that then hit off the heal of the first basemans glove

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 via mobile reply

score please?

4-1 rocks

phillies threatening though

inning?

bottom 6... 2 on, nobody out,

and now the signal is out and I have just as much nothing as you do.

Christ on a bike, TBS, SORT IT OUT

Live television is such a novelty, after all

I have the sneaking suspicion that some management genius came along, looked at the TBS technical budget, and zeroed out the lines for the backup satellite feed and the troubleshooting engineer on call…

"we won't need this much bandwidth; who wants to watch daytime baseball?"

4-1 Rockies,

Phillies have runners at 2,3, no outs, bottom 6th

good summary, thanks

crappola 4-3 now

uh-oh...

dp to end the inning!!

Thanks, due to the craptastic performance of TBS thus far, I missed it

woo.

i forgot, why do we care about this game?

Not yet ready to give up on baseball for the year yet?

plus, Joe Blanton

true

cause this is who we want to win

so they can get knocked off by the dodgers

true

If only Rated R was here

That one was a softball.

I like to think the majority of us have more class than that.

Ah who am I kiddin’.

I was gonna say...

Have you met us?

hi joey

The pleasure is mine

must be in school

lol

I am, too

It’s no excuse.

A bouncer that then hit off the heal of the first basemans glove

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 via mobile reply

Yes!

Suck it, Ruiz!

I like this MNF Coors Light song amalgam

Car....gone.

Wow, they dodged a bullet there...

I’m going out running for a bit. Hopefully Houston will be on when I’m back!

ah, Huston.

i thought it was 2005 or something

Score? update?

Series tied?

OMFG HI BBG.

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Woah.

Yeah, that was pretty insense.

inTense

5-3 col

7th Phillies coming to bat

Right now we're looking at Harry Kallas's shoes

Which, along with his suit, are hanging in the dugout

Whatever makes you feel better, but it’s just a bit creepy for my taste. I can’t imagine the A’s having Bill’s grubby old flip-flops and aloha shirt hanging up for a fetish.

Wow, how many SP does Philly have?

They’ve used Hamels, Blanton, and Happ today?

danmerqury - October 8, 2009 reply

For the remainder of the game, the Phillies will be Happless.

Giambi, in the on-deck circle

just described as “menacing” by the TV crew.

I would not be averse to having Gumby rip a slam right here

Sonofabitcho.

Surprise - a strickout by the Bastardo

Oh damn....

5-4, getting worse

there are a lot

of recently departed cleaveland baseball team players in this post season

Hm, most interesting game of the post season so far

It’s all lining up for Houst-o!

Gulp

c’mon Huston!

+2

TWSS

Gross!

And there's me thinking you girls dug that.

The best ones do, my friend.

You expected less from me???

Not really, no.

As long as we're on the same page, then.

I'm starting the drummers' routine for Huston now!

C'mon Huston, do what you're good at and blow the ballgame.

Huston show why Oakland traded you

The drama is tense.

Huston!!!

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

Battle of Ex-A's!

:P vs. The Keg With Legs!

It's a matchup

Of A’s of old, and A’s of older

I guess Bailey's performance has made me miss Houston less

but boy, he’s good

Bailey is not as beautiful as Huston was in his rookie year

…but neither is Huston.

I met him on the field once -

he was very nice and oh so cute!

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

What?!?!?!

His numbers are WAY better!

I despise teh gu

Let's try that again......

I despise the guy. Mr Blown Save.

You mean one, specifically?

Or that period last year when he was hurt and should have not been pitching (I’ll agree, it’s up to players to take themselves out if they can’t play effectively)

The point where he needed a good kicking if he had the nerve to

turn up to collect his pay cheque.

Yeah, that showed poor judgement, but I don't think it makes him a bad player

And I can’t bring myself to dispise him, to be honest. He didn’t cause everyone else to stop hitting

I'm a sports fan, I don't do rational.

quality comment.

Where's that witty t-shirt picture?

The one about ‘In case of emergency use Stairs.’

Love

'Tis awesome.

agreed

Gameday has Stairs hitting right-handed

Interesting tactic.

ummm- nope

still a lefty

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

Hm, pinch running your ace?

Interesting tactic…. what happens if there’s a play at the plate?

I'm suer they're hoping for that HR - no play then

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

sure

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

If they're hoping for a home run, leave Stairs out there, surely?

That Street Slider down the Middle

That’s a home run ball…

is Street still dreamy?

I miss him for the eye candy…..

my_cat_max - October 8, 2009 reply

Not quite as gasp-inducing

C'mon Rollins, hit this guy out of the park already.

I really don't miss Street

A's Fan KT - October 8, 2009 reply

me either

he’s okay in the broadcast booth though

EllisFanatic - October 8, 2009 reply

Street got lucky there

about 4 meatballs that should have been launched. Not impressive at all but he got the job done.

Good result.

Trainman - October 8, 2009 reply

Yeah but I am so glad that we don't have his high drama 9th innings anymore.

A's Fan KT - October 8, 2009 reply

He got him to swing at one way off the pitch at the end there

He’s got some nice movement on the fastball

Yeah he was typical Street.

One of those saves that takes years off your life.

You know, my brain wants the Rockies to win, but I can’t help rooting for the Phillies. They seem like a great buncha guys. I love Utley, Rollins and Stairs and am quite fond of many others.

high drama!

micdog2001 - October 8, 2009 reply

uh-oh...

Blicks - October 8, 2009 reply

Oooh this brings back memories.

Game over. Yay Rox.

Blicks - October 8, 2009 reply

BUt wait....

there’s more baseball in your future should you choose to accept the consequences of gorging yourself on hours and hours of the game!!

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

in play, out(s)

boo!

micdog2001 - October 8, 2009 reply

Hey an empty Dodger Stadium

Reminds me of an empty Coliseum during the playoffs.

Really? When was that?

My memories of playoffs in Oakland mostly involve sell outs.

Though, the memory, it’s a tricky one sometimes

I'm thinking along the lines of those daygames

Game 5 Twinkies, etc…

Oh yeah, I couldn't get ticket to that

but I was at the 2006 ALDS day game when they clinched, and it was definitely packed oout

If it's a paper sellout

Then I would suppose the bandwagoners would give up on Bay Area teams when they have their backs to the walls, i.e. the San Jose Sharks.

Ya 2002 people didn't come out as much

I think many were waiting for the 2nd round to go to the games. Also I think they raised the playoff ticket prices for the playoffs that year.

Those games weren't empty

There were empty seats in the upper deck, yes, but the problem there was not just that they were weekday day games, it was that the time of the games wasn’t set until a day or so beforehand. A lot of those empty seats had been sold to people who thought they would be night games and couldn’t get off work. (I had taken the precaution of buying tickets for my boss as well as myself, so no worries….).

Mine too

every playoff game I’ve gone to has been packed

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

Do you know how hard it is to get there for a 3pm game?

It’s insanity in LA at that time. Dodger stadium is horribly located.

Ahhhh, more baseball

Well, that's how postseason ballgames should end

Exciting down to the final out.

Badly?

Looking at the Dodgers' lineup...

It’s sooooooo much better than the first half of the season, when Matt Kemp, maybe the team’s best non-Ramirez hitter, was batting EIGHTH all the frickin’ time. The hitters are now slotted ideally. I wonder why it took Torre so long to figure this out.

How many Crosbys would we have to sacrifice to get a player like Kemp?

I can think of three that we could off quite easily, but the next guy’s a superstar in the NHL right? People might miss him.

Crosby from Crosby, Stills and Nash

I’d be ok with that. If he’s still alive?

He is. He's achieved something though.

I’m sure three would suffice anyway.

Holliday Homer!

woo!

What a bum!!!

BERRYJO - October 8, 2009 reply

Oh, NOW he can hit.

He could always hit, he just chose not to in Oakland.

Being the energy sucking vampire that he was. The man is pure evil.

sigh.