Just two days after admitting to having "dead" legs, Jason Giambi's wheels were given no rest Monday night in an 8-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
The Sox struck first when Kevin Youkilis opened the second inning with a home run to left off starter Dallas Braden, but Jack Cust returned the favor in the bottom half with a blast to center field. The A's immediately put two more runners aboard on a single by Kurt Suzuki and a hit batsman (Bobby Crosby). Boston starter Jon Lester came oh so close to limiting the damage, striking out Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney, but Orlando Cabrera dropped a base hit between Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew, scoring Suzuki to give the A's a 2-1 lead. Jason Giambi followed with an opposite-field 2-run, 2-bagger that barely evaded the mitt of Jason Bay, and the 38-year old hustled home with a nice slide- sore groins and all- on a base hit by Matt Holliday to make it 5-1.
Staked to a lead for the first time in 2009, Braden thanked his offense by setting the Sox down in order in the third.
Lester settled into a little bit of a groove after the second until Nomar Garciaparra poked a home run to left field in the fifth, in what had to be a very satisfying trip around the bases.
After having retired 11 of 12 batters, Braden allowed a run in the sixth before striking out Youkilis and getting Drew to fly out to center with two men on to end the threat. The southpaw hit the showers in the seventh having given up two runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out three in a solid effort.
Giambi was hit by a pitch with two outs in the seventh, and was off and running again on a triple by Holliday that- like Giambi's double in the second- just missed leather, this time past a diving Drew in right field.
Michael Wuertz and Santiago Casilla held the Sox in check with a scoreless inning each, in which they retired all six batters they faced combined.
The good guys tacked on another run in the eighth. Cust walked, Suzuki doubled, and Crosby drove in the former with a sacrifice fly.
Brad Ziegler shook off his troubles from Saturday (easy to do with an 8-2 lead, hmm?) by not allowing a Red Sox batter to reach base in a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the deal.
But the night belonged to the young (Braden, who evened his record at 1-1) and the old (Giambi, 2-for-3, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI's), as the A's improved to 3-4 on the season.
0 recs | 156 comments
For anyone who missed it.
Swisher Pitching:
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/files/2009/04/3f2b7eb3de5941b58ed63a0216bff31e1.jpg
Syphon - April 13, 2009
doctorK - April 13, 2009
Clean-shaven porn stars look so sad
doctorK - April 13, 2009
ya he looks like a fat kid on Maury Povich
robbo650 - April 13, 2009
Holy Swisher Sweet!
lynnzgal - April 13, 2009
he hit a homer, too
not a bad day’s work!
alea iacta est - April 13, 2009
Alas, it is the style now
Male and female pornstars alike.
iglew - April 13, 2009
hush there...
marilyn chambers, R.I.P.
AV - April 14, 2009
Doesn't mean she can't still do porn.
mikev - April 14, 2009
I knew he was a pitcher
not a catcher
somebodyelse - April 14, 2009
Hilarious!
And he pitched a shout out inning.
fansince1980 - April 13, 2009
Holla!
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
Oy!
lynnzgal - April 13, 2009
with a K!
Cheezombie - April 13, 2009
He has better mechanics than Tyson Ross
franks a lot - April 14, 2009
Cute story
here (plus some video).
day-to-day - April 13, 2009
Thanks for the link
That was seriously the absolute funniest thing I’ve heard/seen all day!
anomaly_kat - April 13, 2009
wow!
I’m happy for him. He has an ERA of 0.00 lifetime!
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
Awesome
Miss Swisher’s levity.
brian.only - April 14, 2009
Love it. He looked like he was having fun out there as per usual.
OldhamA - April 14, 2009
Yeah! I love it .
Swish loves attention, and I love Swish.
somebodyelse - April 14, 2009
aaand...Posada to the "self-important d-bag" list.
oblique - April 14, 2009
my god
what an idiot.
Future Ed - April 14, 2009
seriously
the Yanks announcers were just as bad, I heard them on a youtube link posted in another thread. They sounded like some horrible thing had happened. There are 162 games in a season people.
micdog2001 - April 14, 2009
And Swish is still awesome.
walkoff baltimore chop - April 14, 2009
why?
does this guy want a target on his back the next time the Rays pitch? maxing out at 80 mph isn’t so hot. But at least it does show that for a “below average” pitcher can at least make X outs…so as a batter, one must do at least better than a batter against him. Ah, gotta love that ’ol “statistics” thing…
rollierollieOxenfree - April 14, 2009
methinks you make too much of this
somebodyelse - April 14, 2009
You missed a great chance at a caption for that shot
“Oakland Athletics’ Jason Giambi prepares to pimp slap Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek blah blah blah.”
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
Dude. Funny.
somebodyelse - April 13, 2009
I prefer – "Giambi left hanging on the high five by Varitek."
rebus - April 13, 2009
zactly what I was thinking
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
I LOL'd.
walkoff baltimore chop - April 14, 2009
I was thinking
“If only Jeremy would have done this?”
micdog2001 - April 14, 2009
that was fast
robbo650 - April 13, 2009
GO A’s!!
drmmerchk - April 13, 2009
So, first starter to record a Win?
Congrats to Braden, although I would have like to see him go 7 innings I think Geren pulled him at the right time. Braden looked confident early, hitting his spots and mixing his pitches well. But it looked like it was starting to unravel on Braden’s third time through the Red Sox line-up. After dominating Baldelli in his first two AB’s, Braden walked him on 5 pitches.
OkayJay81 - April 13, 2009
All the starters have been good though...well mostly.
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
Here are the stats:
7 G 40.1 IP (5.76 per start); 59 H/W— 1.45 WHIP; 19ER— 4.24 ERA
19K/16W.
That last number is the only real glaring weakness. BTW, A’s were well down list on defensive efficiency (yes, it’s very early) that first week— 23rd or so the last I looked— whereas they have generally been in top 5 in MLB in recent years. With a non-strikeout rotation, defense becomes very important.
jasonthea - April 14, 2009
so uh when did they remove Mcaffee from the stadium name?
oh and great hitting finally from the guys we know can hit now.
TheGreenGoldCrush - April 13, 2009
Happened late last summer or early fall...
One of the few nice side effects of the recession!
Jackson23 - April 13, 2009
What's the name now?
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
It looks sort of pathetic at the ballpark — they just slapped a coat of battleship gray paint over the McAfee signs.
Englishmajor - April 13, 2009
Cool. Original name.
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
Yep
And they took all that hideous red advertising out of the dugouts
Now I can do some serious nasty joojoo on our opponents.
Buck Turgidson - April 13, 2009
New Coli nickname?
Marine Primer-arium
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
that is so awesome.
I reallly like that it has been renamed to its original form, however i’m sure that doesn’t bode well for the team being kept in oakland in an old stadium with no major sponsor.
TheGreenGoldCrush - April 14, 2009
hmmm...
I’m wondering what all the “Let’s get Randy Johnson” supporters are thinking now? Our young rotation looks pretty damn good to me.
FoolshGame22 - April 13, 2009
Yeah, and Randy Johnson doesn’t. Ouch!
Rated-R Superstar - April 13, 2009
I can see them getting tired by August, but I'm OK with crossing that bridge then
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
He's pitched a grand total of two starts....
lenscrafters - April 13, 2009
I'm sure he'll get better as he gets...
older.
FoolshGame22 - April 13, 2009
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
His first start was actually pretty good. Today’s start wasn’t. But the point is both young and old pitchers have good and bad starts. It’s way too early to declare that the signing was a bust.
lenscrafters - April 13, 2009
not too early for me...
lol
FoolshGame22 - April 13, 2009
Cant help but wonder
if Giambi will need to rest a night after a game or two like this one….
greenANDgold NC - April 13, 2009
But then Crosby would have to play 1B
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
Well, Garciaparra could move across the diamond and then Chavez could play third.
Rated-R Superstar - April 13, 2009
Except he's probably out tomorrow and maybe Wed
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
Just DL Chavvy...
he’s likely gone for 15 days anyway. Bring up Barton. Problem solved.
FoolshGame22 - April 13, 2009
I like how Croz is our substitute "to be HBP"
gives him some use…
rollierollieOxenfree - April 14, 2009
Classic Braden
Rocking a Stockton street map hat with a Ports logo on it in the postgame interview.
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
They make those hats for minor league teams?
I thought that was only a New Era fashion thing for the pros
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
Nice game
I thought of something to bring up during the game and was prepared to bring it up in the post-game thread but now I can’t remember what it was so I’ll just say nice game.
Helloooo 1st - April 13, 2009
And I just saw Pepe under the nose
Hilarious.
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
Is there video? Or even just a photo?
walkoff baltimore chop - April 13, 2009
I don't think so
But now I see what’s so funny about it. Any time he rubs under his nose with his index finger you can see the curly ’stache tat.
I love it.
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
Great game....very solid.
baseballgirl - April 13, 2009
The Mariners
were the real Spring training. Lets hope they got the bugs out.
lynnzgal - April 13, 2009
And the Red Sox kept the bugs in
WaddellCanseco - April 13, 2009
Tripled the homerun total!
fansince1980 - April 13, 2009
Cust has been insane!!! He is making so much contact it is scary.
Our all or nothing offense – sample size alert
Cust – 1.206 OPS
Holliday – .893 OPS
Giambi – .885 OPS
O-Cab – .810 OPS
Singles McSweeney – .676
Suzuki – .600
Ellis – .572
Nomar – .556
Chavez – .390
ChadGod - April 13, 2009
So glad he's hitting 7th.
mikev - April 14, 2009
Good thing the heart of the order was hitting today
I felt like I was watching an NL team with Crosby and Davis at the bottom of the order. Definitely felt an added sense of urgency to score before those two could kill the momentum.
Davis is really looking like he doesn’t have what it takes to be a platoon option, he should be relegated to pinch-running and defensive replacement duty.
OkayJay81 - April 13, 2009
i agree
davis really doesnt seem like he knows whats going on when hes in the box
rktse - April 13, 2009
it's a shame because he didn't look that way in spring
he just looks lost at the plate now.
SoCalA'sFan - April 13, 2009
Yea, I was starting to believe this Spring as well
It’s only been a couple of games this season, but he really looks bad. Combined with his hitting ability before this year it’s really starting to look like his strong Spring in Arizona might have been a fluke. Flukey spring stats? Shocking.
OkayJay81 - April 13, 2009
he hasn't played much since the season began
I’d wait at least a couple of weeks more before deciding that he’d lost whatever he had gained late last season, during winter ball, and spring training.
OaklandSi - April 13, 2009
I've never liked Raj, and have been berated on AN for it.
He’s fast. Check.
But he can’t hit. He has poor plate discipline. He hits way too many balls in the air and way too few liners and ground balls.
His speed is the only thing that keeps him from being a bad defender. He has no arm.
He’s also a bad baserunner, despite the speed. His baseball instincts appear to be lacking.
I think we should trade him to the Reds so Dusty can replace Corey Patterson, because I think Corey is Raj’s best comp.
I also have issues with athletes who inject religion into every comment they make about their athletic performance, but to avoid wandering into PT territory, I’ll leave it at that and simply concede that this personal issue of mine probably clouds my judgment on Raj as a ballplayer.
vegAN ryAN - April 13, 2009
I would also add that he is also a bad bunter.
I mean seriously, you would think with his offensive skill set he could at least lay down a freaking bunt.
AsFanInLA - April 13, 2009
I agree with the religion part
I find it extremely obnoxious. With all the fucked up shit that happens in the world do you think that whatever deity that exists had time to care if you could play sports? Also, if God did care, wouldn’t he have made Rajai not…. um…. suck at baseball?
designatedforassignment - April 13, 2009
I don't mind one way or the other, and I'm not a very religious person
If someone feels blessed or has strong faith to the point of thanking God, more power to them. Why should it bother someone else? Is it offensive or something?
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
I actually do find it mildly offensive,
but as they always say, there are no atheists in quadruple-A.
(Nobody says that but me, actually. And I think it’s pretty brilliant on my part. Someone should use that as their signature.)
vegAN ryAN - April 13, 2009
I could ask what offends you about it
But you did say you’d rather just leave it at that above and things like this often turn into debates that don’t do anyone any good.
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
lol
rec’d
Buck Turgidson - April 14, 2009
I completely agree with Flashfire on this.
I’m not a believer at all, but I think the religious comments are just fine. They don’t bother me at all.
iglew - April 14, 2009
+1: totally agree
rollierollieOxenfree - April 14, 2009
If he feel that religion should be mentioned...
it’s his life and his right to do so .
IM4Oakgal - April 14, 2009
Though given how the baseball is going...
…perhaps he should start praying to a different deity.
GreenNGoldSooner - April 14, 2009
+1
DCinWC - April 14, 2009
He needs to offer up some hooch
to Jobu.
5Aces - April 14, 2009
Odd stuff
Attendance was not reported at the game tonight. Good reason: it sucked. 21,000+ against the Red Sox. But still
-it wasn’t reported.Also, the scoreboard people were slow on the uptake. No announcement was ever made that Velazquez played shortstop after Carter pinch-hit, and they had a tough time putting Carter on the board, leaving Green up til after Carter’s at-bat began.
They also weren’t paying much attention to pitch counts and screwed that up for a while as well.
Weird.
richwol1 - April 13, 2009
I was there on Easter...
We took our Grandbaby to her first game…and I was very surprised at the lack of attendance for an opening weekend.
IM4Oakgal - April 14, 2009
Noticed that too
They haven’t announced attendance at any game so far this year, though.
dtnick - April 14, 2009
Yeah yeah we won blah blah
But what the hell is this?
vegAN ryAN - April 13, 2009
Interesting
My gut says “personal issues” probably means 17 year old kid is nervous about leaving home for so long and the team is considering how much time he needs in extended ST to get ready for short-season ball in July.
OkayJay81 - April 13, 2009
"Personal issues" are not necessarily bad.
Seems like a lot of people are jumping to conclusions that it’s some sort of problem. The kid is 17, and short-season doesn’t start till the end of June. Maybe he just wants to finish high school at home. There are plenty of plausible reasons.
iglew - April 14, 2009
a while back I read (didn't keep the link, sorry!)
that he needed to finish the semester in high school…that may have something to do with not being able to go to extended spring training now.
OaklandSi - April 14, 2009
Personal issues with young dominican players
SHOULD make us nervous. The DR is a desperately poor country where a high number of people view baseball as THE ticket off the island. You need to worry not only about the player but about the people surrounding the player. It may be something innocuous, but I don’t think you can view it as good news.
On the other hand, if you thought he was going to affect the A’s this year or next, you’re smoking something from the mainland a few degrees west of due south of the DR.
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
me? smoking something?
Michel Ynoa’s family is not poor, by the way. Poor kids don’t usually go to high school in the DR, much less finish.
I have lived in the DR and am familiar with the class differences there. While the majority are certainly poor, there is a small middle class and smaller wealthy elite.
OaklandSi - April 14, 2009
Interesting comment...I lived in the DR too from '76 to '81...
when were you living there?
Vegas Ace - April 14, 2009
1988-9, then briefly in 1991
OaklandSi - April 14, 2009
Some mildly good Chavez news
From Susan Slusser
lenscrafters - April 13, 2009
Yeah, I don't believe him.
OldhamA - April 14, 2009
Anyone else maybe, but Chavy is one of the most honest players regarding injury, he is
usually more pessimistic, than the team.
theblackpearl - April 14, 2009
I do. He's not one to lie based on past comments.
Flashfire - April 14, 2009
You need the area to calm down
before amputation, I’m afraid.
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
Ah the Anne Boleyn treatment
WaddellCanseco - April 14, 2009
just got back from the game
Sux fans were awfully loud and obnoxious early on….but they quieted down as the game went on, and most in my section left before the game ended…sweet!
Turns out Lester also has a very good move to first…but the A’s were evidently seeing the ball out of his hand. Braden pitched masterfully to get out of what looked like a jam in the seventh…he got a well deserved ovation.
Crosby’s swing looks as long and loopy as ever…the only difference I could see was that he’s crouching more, and may be a bit closer to the plate. I was glad to see him sac fly a run in, and he looked fine at second base.
OaklandSi - April 13, 2009
oops -- Braden got out of the jam in the sixth
OaklandSi - April 13, 2009
Yea
The strike out of Youkilis was pretty awesome.
OkayJay81 - April 13, 2009
Crosby looked fine at 2nd base? Really? That 5-4-3 double play attempt in the 7th Inning was probably the worst I have ever seen at the MLB Level .
Colorado Fan - April 13, 2009
fine -- as in did not commit any errors and help lose a game
not fine as in “he’s so fine”…
OaklandSi - April 13, 2009
I guess you don't remember Soriano at second base
OaklandSi - April 13, 2009
I remember. I actually feel (kinda) bad for the Wizard of Croz. He’s gonna look really bad trying to play 3 positions he’s never played before – 3B, 2B, 1B
Colorado Fan - April 13, 2009
don't forget right field, too
He got stuck there for an inning at the end of the game a few days ago.
notsellingjeans - April 14, 2009
TV showed GPar's first career HR, at the Collie his rookie season.
The one tonight landed within about ten-feet of the original, about two minutes later.
I hope we do the Time Warp again.
The Dogfather - April 13, 2009
Its just a jump to the left...
designatedforassignment - April 13, 2009
Who the heck is "GPar"?
iglew - April 14, 2009
It's a golf score from the all new "Snoop Dogg" handicapping system
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
Dood!!
The Dogfather - April 14, 2009
My wife was upset that the announcers didn't talk about how similar it looked.
micdog2001 - April 14, 2009
Your wife is obviously an astute and observant woman.
The Dogfather - April 14, 2009
I love your headline baseballgirl
It’s just awesome. Beautiful night for the A’s. The offense proved that they can actually hit against a quality lefty (I was starting to worry about that) and Braden looked like a confident, bulldog kind of ace. Any time that a guy screams profanity at a ball in his glove, you’ve just got to love that dude. I think I officially started a love affair with Dallas tonight.
Yell at that ball, Dallas. YELL AT IT!!!!
Tyler Bleszinski - April 13, 2009
Wonder if that was a little "tribute" to Mark Fidrych
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
I was thinking the same thing...
anomaly_kat - April 13, 2009
Sorry, Marquez!
Wrong person getting credit for the cute headline. D’oh!
Tyler Bleszinski - April 13, 2009
Hey Blez
Next time if you are going to give the wrong person credit for a good headline, may as well just take credit for it yourself, you are the boss right? : )
AsFanInLA - April 13, 2009
It's an easy mistake
When I think “cute” I’d probably think of baseballgirl over 67MARQUEZ, too.
Flashfire - April 13, 2009
Hey Flash got a Question for you
Where do you think oakland ranks of all time organzations?
buckfan6 - April 14, 2009
I just want to say one thing.
You know that Anthem commercial with the ugly blond-haired kid who is constantly injuring himself? I hate that commercial with a passion, and I’m tempted to punch that kid in the face. Yes, I’d really punch a kid. That’s how much I hate that commercial.
And they play it like every half inning.
VORP is too nerdy - April 13, 2009
Not to mention...
I may have to step on a midget if I hear that mini sirloin burgers song again. They don’t even look that good!
Synx - April 14, 2009
Why step on one
When you can punt?
Helloooo 1st - April 14, 2009
I like the mini sirloin burgers song.
But then I’ve only watched two games on TV so far, so I haven’t seen it all that much.
iglew - April 14, 2009
Where do yall think oakland ranks in baseball all time?
Like top 5?
buckfan6 - April 14, 2009
Someone should find the "Flash Jackpot" kryptonite
and kill that piss poor excuse for a superhero
Any hero who credits an origin to Cache Creek deserves to be eaten by a rampaging Hulk.
oaklandSMASH - April 14, 2009
you can answer to
buckfan6 - April 14, 2009
I hate that one too.
But I like the one where the women scream about the great closet and the guys scream about the walk-in beer fridge.
IM4Oakgal - April 14, 2009
My wife laffed at that one too
somebodyelse - April 14, 2009
Funny, that's what I think about that stupid ass Pedroia commercial.
mikev - April 14, 2009
Games like this one...
help to erase the bad feeling of being swept. The team is fun to watch again…and for that I feel very grateful.
IM4Oakgal - April 14, 2009
Can anyone explain to me why we used Wuertz, Casilla and Ziggy?
The rest of the pen needs love too.
OldhamA - April 14, 2009
Casilla and Ziggy haven't been overworked. Wuertz on the other hand.....
WaddellCanseco - April 14, 2009
Wuertz
Dude has some nasty stuff. I hate seeing him get only 1/3, 2/3 of an inning. Would like to see him get a whole inning and not just be the guy who replaces for the starter for a batter.
DCinWC - April 14, 2009
The rest of the pen HAVEN'T BEEN USED, which is a bigger issue.
OldhamA - April 14, 2009
wow, so different actually getting to see the players. question for those who get to regularly:
what was the deal with Braden’s confidence? The inning where he walked Baldelli and gave up the infield single to Pedroia it started to look like there was panic in the air… But I couldn’t quite tell if this was because Braden was actually freaking out (he did look pretty unsettled) or if Zooks made it look worse by running out 5 times. thoughts? (Nico- you’re a Braden guy, what sayeth you)
side question: does Rajai always look that horrible at the plate? I think my sigline needs updating
oakinboston - April 14, 2009
If your first name is Dallas
you’re a bad ass with a lot of confidence. That is all.
And Rajai always looks horrible at the plate. It’d be really, really nice if he learned how to bunt.
VORP is too nerdy - April 14, 2009
Can Jason retroactively give one of his slides to his brother?
Just asking
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
This might be the funniest post
I have read on AN…gold eastcoasta’sfan….gold
mills16 - April 14, 2009
Thanks
Living in the Boston area since before then, that memory is exceptionally vivid
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
I'm in Jersey..
so my friends who are Yankee fans still don’t let that one go
mills16 - April 14, 2009
As they shouldn't.
OldhamA - April 14, 2009
The one that really gets me
is Tejada rounding third . . . instead of continuing to play baseball decides to become the world’s most overpaid – and worst – umpire. I had just had that conversation with the little league team I was coaching. Not a one of them would have done that.
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
That play made me hate Tejada.
For all the years I loved the guy, I lost everything I had for the guy when I watched that play.
drink409 - April 14, 2009
Eric m(*&()fI*&&*%&^%$ Byrnes gaulimafry
Buck Turgidson - April 14, 2009
Why do people get so pissed at Byrnes and let Tejada slide?
I mean, you could say that Byrnes thought he touched the plate, but still he screwed up by not going to hit it again.
Tejada just flat out fucking STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAY. How do you even do something like that?
mikev - April 14, 2009
I wanted to kill both of them equally
I am very thankful that I did not watch that game live, since my brother and I took my parents out to dinner to celebrate Dad’s 70th birthday that night.
doctorK - April 14, 2009
+1
You’re right on. You can try really, really hard to come up with an excuse for Byrnes, and when you add to it the fact that the guy’s always been a bit of a goofball, you can almost buy it. But there can simply be no excuse whatsoever for what Tejada did. I’ve never seen it above little league.
eastcoasta'sfan - April 14, 2009
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