You know, you can get caught up in the moment and say, this could be the turning point of the A's young season. I'm not talking about a single play, but a whole confluence of things that happened late in the game today against the Texas Rangers.
First, Ryan Sweeney's robbery of a home run from Ian Kinsler in the bottom of the eighth inning that would've turned a 3-1 A's lead into a 4-3 deficit and likely a loss was quite possibly the best A's defensive play since Terrence Long stole a home run from Manny Ramirez in Boston several years back. And Sweeney looked like he had it lined up the whole way and was as cool as a cucumber on it.
Then the next inning, Matt Holliday finally arrives. You know, the REAL Matt Holliday from Colorado. The one who mashes home runs and plays excellent outfield defense. Holliday, in the ninth inning, winds up smacking an opposite field home run and then cuts down Michael Young on an A's-like baserunning gaffe in that he, for some unexplained reason, tried to turn a double into a triple when his team was trailing by three runs to a very inexperienced closer in Michael Wuertz (he had one career save).
But it was one of those games where nearly everything went right for the A's. Geren gambled in leaving Dallas Braden in to pitch in a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning to try and get the third out, and it worked. Braden successfully got out of it. Braden earned a win. And say what you want about his stuff not dominating, but Braden is just deceptive enough to keep the opponent from squaring up the ball perfectly. Sure it led to him having an early exit after five innings, but he kept a potent offense completely off the board.
The somewhat depleted bullpen then came in and while Andrew Bailey was dominating in his two innings of work (seriously, do we want to put a guy who is probably our best reliever on the shelf for a while?), Springer and Wuertz were very lucky to escape their one inning each without giving it up. Not only did Michael Young's base running mistake cost the Rangers, but Orlando Cabrera climbed the ladder perfectly to rob another base hit. Like I said, there was a big-time confluence of things going for the A's today.
As for the A's offense, Cabrera, Suzuki and Sweeney are essentially carrying the club right now. With the numerous injuries and Holliday sporting his Crosbian numbers, the A's needed something so they got two sacrifice flies and a walk with the bases loaded from Jack Cust. If this team is going to really turn it around, they're going to need Holliday to be the stud that Billy Beane annointed during spring training. Hopefully this is the start of something good.
Ryan Sweeney certainly thinks so.
0 recs | 409 comments
first
Erasr - April 30, 2009
Kiss April goodbye.
Never really the best month for Oakland A’s baseball..
Erasr - April 30, 2009
LET'S GO MAY
ElQuesoCapitan - April 30, 2009
Amen, Cap'n.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
But I thought Blue moon said we GNG'ers were done?
:)
Go A’s! Holliday needs to make this offense go and I hope today was the start of good things for him.
Great to hear the replay of the Sweeney catch as well, I don’t think I have ever heard Vince so excited about a play…..awesome call Vince!
mrod - April 30, 2009
Yeah, he really was.
It was a great call. we may have to embrace him now.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
or each other...
;o
mrod - April 30, 2009
I thought the male mating season was over? Did they extend it?
drink409 - April 30, 2009
Lol!
I find this thought strangely arousing…
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
?
What’s so strange about arousing?
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
I'm staying out of this one.
mikev - April 30, 2009
I'm only participating if you are.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Looks more and more likely every passing day.
mikev - April 30, 2009
I only participate in these sordid affairs
in days ending in “Y”.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Dude.
You are missing out. Oh, wait.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Wuss.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
only in a non leap year
mrod - April 30, 2009
Love that T-long reference
If I remember correctly, that was the game that started their 20 game win streak
oakinboston - April 30, 2009
That was a different time
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
I'm surprised
I still remember watching that game o_O
fruitattack - April 30, 2009
I was sitting in the palazo
of The Venetian, having a caricature painted of me and my wife.
The artist lady kept getting pissed off at me because I kept getting up to get a closer look…
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
post the caricature
ak_A - April 30, 2009
Hmm. Interesting proposition.
If I knew where it was, which I’m not sure I do (I actually do have an idea), I don’t know where I would scan it. It’s at least 18-20" tall…
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
i'm trying to find the right reel in my head...
was it the one that was sort of hip-high after a long run, but behind the boston bullpen wall? he sort of reached down and said, oh looky here, there’s a sad boston fanbase in my glove.
AV - April 30, 2009
Yeah, he didn't have to jump or even reach up
but he had to cover a lot of ground to get to the ball, so at the moment he caught it he was reaching across his body just as he hit the wall. But because the wall in RF in Fenway is so short, his glove was higher than the wall.
Nick - April 30, 2009
it was an awesome moment
AV - April 30, 2009
That was the first time
that my wife ever saw me go apeshit over an A’s win.
Athletics fan and runner - April 30, 2009
First time
monkeys saw me go ape, too.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I made Ian watch it,
twice.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
That's cause you're a good Mom.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
One thing's for sure.
Win or lose, the recaps make for excellent reading.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Marquez, since you were so intrigued by a MLP/Tomei Thunderdome matchup
I didn’t want you to miss this from the game threads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2lhCv3zQjo
cityplANner - April 30, 2009
Holy crap.
How do we make this a reality?
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Well, I've got some...um, things we can use.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Well, Thunderdome is real
You’ve just gotta convince the West Oakland hipster artists who built it to bring it back out of retirement.
The whole MLP/Tomei part, I’m outta ideas.
cityplANner - April 30, 2009
They are the ones with the loft spaces to build it now.
Let’s be fair.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
live/work loft space is where it's at
Zero-commute work environment and consolidation of 2 spaces of habitation into one. Everybody wins.
cityplANner - April 30, 2009
Well, except their spaces are big enough to house a 737 normally.
I’m not sure that’s necessarily eco-friendly.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Awesome game, all around.
NateHST - April 30, 2009
A great TEAM effort.
Just awesome.
catattack77 - April 30, 2009
What's great is that what has been the A's strength
early on this year has been the bullpen and the rest of the team picked up Springer and Wuertz today on defense.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
+1 Blez
This team would be unbearable without the pen…
mrod - April 30, 2009
Wait a minute!
The best game of the year and the Blogfather’s running it!
Coincidence? I think not.
Blez, I hope you’re not busy for another 130 games or so…
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Personally,
I think the best play was Eric Byrnes’ catch at home against the Mariners it was a foul pop fly that he ran for what seemed forever and then dove into his superman pose and made a tremendous catch.
Sweeney’s however was much more important, being game saving and all.
Wasn’t Long’s catch during the ALDS (A’s Lose Da Series)
Danwise134 - April 30, 2009
No
It was in the regular season
Helloooo 1st - April 30, 2009
And
IIRC, he made another awesome play the next series in New York
Helloooo 1st - April 30, 2009
Well
We also had the Jason Kendall throwing his face into Michael Young’s cleats FTW a few seasons ago too.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
Jason Kendall's facetag always wins.
Though the Chavez double play at third a few years ago was pretty special too. Ellis should be mentioned, but he makes 2nd look so easy that it’s tough to think of a spectacular play.
Oh and Jack Cust is carrying this offence too. You missed him out.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Cust has been doing it since day one
So I suppose I’m taking him for granted right now, which is unwise with the Oakland A’s.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
I think, of equal value was Kendall scoring from 3B on KRod's blunder
Eastbayjim - April 30, 2009
that is still Fosses favorite play
mrod - April 30, 2009
How can it not be? I loved Jason Kendall when he didn't have a bat in his hands.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
me too
jeffro - April 30, 2009
or a ball in his right hand
Angels used to run all over his ass. The glove and mental game were Kendall’s strengths.
Colorado Fan - April 30, 2009
Kendall's gonna be a kick ass manager
hopefully in a division far away from us…
Gaijin_Suketto - April 30, 2009
I'unno
Wouldn’t mind having him skipper the team instead of Geren. Anyone who takes a run at John Lackey and steals home off of F-Rod’s sulk-fest is A-material in my book (aaaaaaaand pun).
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
There's always the danger that he'd put himself in at catcher though.
OldhamA - May 1, 2009
I remember that catch
it was awesome, a greater catch but not as important cuz it didn’t save 3 runs.
micdog2001 - April 30, 2009
I guess you should swing by more often Blez
if it means a quality A’s win like this.
PortlandPachyderm - April 30, 2009
Ryan Sweeney is a
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
+123,456,789
ElQuesoCapitan - April 30, 2009
Any reference to that is always made of win.
walkoff baltimore chop - April 30, 2009
I may have written that.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
A Good Win
Any time the A’s can win one in that house of horrors is a huge plus in my book. I hope Holliday can get hot. The guy is a very good hitter.
I agree about Blez’s assessment on Braden. The guy knows how to pitch and isn’t afraid when the pressure is on. Hopefully this can rub off on the other starters.
Now it is on to Seattle. It is time for some payback.
GO A’s
KCa's - April 30, 2009
Maybe Holliday can only hit in launch pads....
Oh and Braden is downright studly at the moment.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I view
Braden as an almost left-handed Justin Duchscherer. With the movement on that cutter and the way he tries to pitch around the corners.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
good assessment, doctor...
Gaijin_Suketto - April 30, 2009
Sorry, Ian Kinsler
doctorK - April 30, 2009
Wow, that's awesome
drink409 - April 30, 2009
Nice, DrK.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I got a fever
and the only prescription is more Sweeney!
Kallus - April 30, 2009
this is the highlight of my day
A'sfaninNC - May 1, 2009
did anyone watch the game?
and if so how did Patterson look…Cuz every game I have watched of him here in Sac I have been very impressed offensively, so was wondering how he looked at the plate…box scores can be deceptive
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Patterson looked a bit overmatched at the plate
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
What should we expect? Some people just mash in AAA
and can’t hit in the bigs. This guy is likely one of those types and, boy, we’ve seen soooo many of them play for the A’s.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
We'll see
I’m not ready to write him off. But he doesn’t look very good up there.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
It seems like the Rivercats are a perennial AAAA club...
…which I don’t mind, because I like victories, and I’m at Raley Field a lot…
Gaijin_Suketto - April 30, 2009
Strange
but does that mean that A’s scouts are really close to being great at evaluating talent but they just miss that one element that makes a player “special”?
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Yes. They can tell if a guy should be a good hitter - strike zone judgement,
power etc, but they can’t seem to tell if he’ll be able to foul off that crucial pitch etc.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I think this is approach
this is taught to them…and by teaching patience and trying to draw walks often times they try to avoid even swinging at the close pitch which would affect the “foul off” your talking about…instead a’s hitters get the k looking instead of seeing another pitch…Its mainly approach
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
I think they scout the guys with this approach.
Take Carlos Gonzalez (Gonzales?), he couldn’t find the strikezone with both hands and a miner’s torch.
By the looks of it the A’s have changed their scouting process recently with people like Dixon et al, so we’ll see if it really is an organisational approach or something they look for when they scout the players.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I agree. They aren't teaching guys to not swing
at the ball. They are teaching them to find a good pitch to hit. In fact, I’m not really sure if their philosophy is still as concrete in regards to patience but I’ve never heard anything to the contrary.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
heres the thing
if you are waiting around for the right pitch you are less likely to swing at borderline pitches which in turn creates a feel that the A’s generally do not fight off pitches…its cuz usually they are staring at pitches that other people fight off, good or bad its a fact that the A’s are waiting for a good pitch to hit which means they dont swing at borderline pitches and will strikeout looking or walk, instead of fighting pitches off as other teams do
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
If that's the case...
…that’s really terrible.
I can see, based on statistical analyses, why that approach would SEEM to be a successful one because all things being equal, it should work. But things aren’t equal, and what it really means is that the other pitcher can nibble around the edges, walk a lot of guys, and leave lots of men on base without any runs scoring. Which sounds a lot like what’s happened to the A’s over the past few years.
richwol1 - April 30, 2009
Sadly I think it is the case.
It’s why borderline pitchers can look like bonafide aces against us – they know we’re not going to swing at certain pitches in certain counts and then before you know it you’re behind in the count and suceptible to a strikeout (or a weak out if you’re protecting the plate).
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Grass is always greener
It’s interesting to me to see complaints about how the A’s are good at getting on base but can’t drive the runs home, when here in Seattle it’s exactly the reverse.
I was listening to ESPN radio Seattle yesterday and they were observing that the Mariners have the worst OBP in the league but at the same time they’re best with RISP. Their conclusion: there’s no way that’s sustainable and it’s only a matter of time before the M’s offense crashes and burns.
iglew - April 30, 2009
"worst OBP in the league but at the same time they’re best with RISP"
The Emil Brown in April 2008 effect.
lenscrafters - April 30, 2009
Imagining "9 Emil Browns" ...
can’t breathe … must sit down …
Nico - April 30, 2009
The power just went out in our building.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
You must be at the Coliseum
Nico - April 30, 2009
"9 Emil Browns"
That must be some sort of Baseball Apocalypse…
lenscrafters - April 30, 2009
[Channels Ray Fosse]
Who wouldn’t want nine RBI machines?!?
day-to-day - April 30, 2009
“Brown hits it down the line! All Browns advance! Brown at 1st, Brown at 2nd, and Brown at 3rd. And Brown comes to the plate with the bases loaded!”—-theoretical Cotroneo quote of the ’09 season in a very parallel universe
Kallus - April 30, 2009
I heard they taught "clutchness"
throughout ST. Shhh. Don’t tell anybody I told ya.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I think it is the case
and agree to some extent…I think the A’s need to try to teach a kind of dual approach that is more aggressive when runners are on base and more importantly in scoring position, also with two strikes they need to preach that the strike zone is a little bigger and get into more of a fighting role.. something like what Jack Cust has looked like this year is wonderful…I love his approach right now with 2 strikes, picky yet not gonna let a close pitch beat him….Cust has had some at bats this year that are downright awesome. Sure he has had some k’s looking but I see a huge improvement now lets just see if its temporary or a permanent change in Cust
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Exactly what I would say
Baseball is so much about adjustments. The best hitting approach HAS to include adjusting to the situation. There is no “one correct approach” for all situations.
Nico - April 30, 2009
They consistently win
thats what you want outta your AAA club…Sure the A’s dont really have too many Elite level players, but who does? I’d say if your complaining abou the A’s scouting staff it is misled because they do a consistent job of bringing in solid baseball players…“special” players are few and far between and require some luck at times as far as developing into what you see…A’s scouts do a solid job especially when we make these trades, we bring back talent that is really good, I would say we should improve our drafting but again its not easy
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Well you can say that the key to building a ball club
is through drafting good players. If the A’s are doing that then why are there so many grade C to D fucking trades? Also, why is there a need to constantly wheel-n-deal if they have “solid” players?
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I think it's because you always need that superstar that can
win you a game on his own.
It also doesn’t help that we refused to go over slot for players and drafted very low in the first round for near enough a decade. Both of those situations mean your talent pool is going to be depleted.
Beane has had to trade the borderline elite players he has before they become too expensive. In return he’s managed to scrounge together enough prospects to put out a good team, until the last few years that is. I figure the whole process just caught up with him/us/the organisation.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
but I think Moneyball eluded to part of the problem
that may still exist today. Jeremy Brown was a great example of someone you don’t draft yet the A’s brass was always trying to find a way to “outsmart” the other teams. Did it work at times? Certainly. Did it fail a lot? Definitely.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
In the last draft they went after guys with tools.
And they were willing to go over slot for them. I wonder if Beane has worked out that the new MB is exploiting the lack of action taken towards teams that ignore the slot system. It’s a policy that has infused our farm system with some talent very quickly.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
because we dealt away ethier
rktse - April 30, 2009
this trade
pisses me off more by the day
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
interesting, thanks for the info
I really hope he can get more comfrotable and show what he shows at AAA…Another guy who is beyond impressive is doolittle, dude can just hit
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Dallas Braden
could be the next Jamie Moyer. T-Long’s catch was A-mazing and I may have never been that amped up watching the A’s!!!
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I agree, but wouldn't use today's start as a selling point
Sounds to me like today was “Phew” for Braden. 111 pitches in 5 innings? 4 BBs in 5 IP? I wouldn’t try that on a regular basis!
Nico - April 30, 2009
I don't think they're twins but they both have completely
hittable stuff that somehow baffles the hitters. Man this guy has been a pleasant surprise that I never saw coming.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Oh I think he's pitched great overall
My guess is just that today wasn’t one of his better outings, even though the ERA was 0.00.
Nico - April 30, 2009
Against that lineup I think it was pretty good.
From what I’ve seen of them of late they’re pretty locked in, but Braden was just deceptive enough so they couldn’t square him up. Unfortunately that led to about 60 fouls.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
That's good to hear
I couldn’t follow the game so I’m just looking at the boxscore.
Nico - April 30, 2009
I think the comparison to Duke is pretty apt actually.
Doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but has very good control and is not afraid to challenge hitters.
I figure the cutter he learnt in the offseason is helping him a ton too – that’s the pitch Duke relies on a lot, it’s a very tough one to square up on.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Braden
I watched the majority of the game. Not many players had good/great swings. Nelson Cruz missed a hanging 72 MPH’er, but that was about the only “true” mistatke. He was getting ahead of guys most of the time. Couple DP’s would have been turned had the infield not been Crosby, Cabrera, Patterson, Powell. Braden dealt today (IMO).
Braden was nibbling after getting ahead of hitters. He should have been more aggressive.
Colorado Fan - April 30, 2009
not bad considering he left his last start with a groin twinge
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
how many K's today? 6?
cityplANner - April 30, 2009
Hmm i seem to remember
Clearly Braden is an ACE!!!!!!!!!! and hasn’t benifited from luck at all thus far.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
If I may just politely say,
I think this kind of comment is really unhelpful. I’m not even sure what it means, since today was a one start, 5 inning sample that doesn’t really reflect anything about Braden as a pitcher in general (and I’ve certainly never characterized him as an ace), but it seems clearly designed to restart an unpleasant exchange I had hoped we had (and still hope we have) moved past.
I hope every good or bad start by Braden or Eveland won’t devolve into a “see!” type of sarcastic exchange. It certainly won’t from my end; can we just root for the A’s?
Nico - April 30, 2009
That's what I call
leading by example. Well penned, friend.
And that’s not to imply that you have to change your ways, but, well, I think/hope you know what I mean.
Simply put, I can do without the buzzkill. Too many other things to talk about today. I can discuss the catch until my fingers break.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
I regret my part in that conversation
I just regret everyone else’s part too!
Nico - April 30, 2009
Growing pains, Nico.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Give me 5-10 years and I usually learn
Nico - April 30, 2009
Let me rephrase in a more helpful way...
Braden did not pitch well today and benefited from some copious luck to keep his 9 base runners four on walks from scoring in his 5 innings. I know people here like him… as do I but Eveland shouldn’t be judged differently from Braden when he had a great season last year an has had 2 bad starts. Luck plays a central role in starts like this and I think to deny it is irresponsible. I just think that decrying Eveland’s performance and calling him a #5 starter at best because he hasn’t had good luck isn’t fair when we are dealing with such small sample sizes. I want both to do well and both to be treated with the same skepticism.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
I don't know how lucky Braden was today, because I couldn't follow the game
What luck did he benefit from? If there were liners right at people, or great defensive plays to save him, then yeah he was lucky. Either way, he didn’t pitch a great game to walk 4 guys and throw 22 pitches per inning, but I don’t know how much luck played a part in his keeping the Rangers off the board.
What I would say about Eveland is that he has both pitched poorly and been unlucky. In other words, when his BABIP regresses he will still not have a lot of success if it means he is giving up “only” a couple hits and a walk every 2 innings and throwing 20 pitches / inning. And while his HR/9IP ratio may be very good overall, but it won’t stay at 0.0. So some things will be getting worse while others get better.
Nico - April 30, 2009
The HR rate regression is a good one to point out.
Though I would suggest it is less worry some than you would expect given that Eveland has only been giving up flyballs to 16% of batters he has faced. I would like to remind you that Eveland pitched in 40+ MPH winds in one of his starts, should have been able to pitch the 6th in his last one and other than that had a quality start. The Yankees start was a total disaster. Considering that the BAPIP is going to come way way down according to ALL of the projection systems, it will decrease Hits, Walks, Pitches and increase innings.
I didn’t see how a 9 base runner no runs through 5 inning performance can’t be attributed to luck, even though I missed some of the game that he was pitching. Its not like you give up that many runners on purpose or say to yourself hey im sucking maybe I should stop that when there are runners on. Braden’s strand rate is 85% where as the rest of the league is averaging 71%. Today he stranded runners at a 100% rate regressing that down to league average he would have give up 2.6 runs in 5 innings. Not good.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
I wouldn't say Eveland had a great season last year
I mean, he was pitching so poorly at one point that the A’s sent him to the minors to work on a few things.
He showed some good signs and did have some very nice outings, but he’s still got a lot of work to do before he’s any more than an end of the rotation guy. I’d say he was very average.
Does StatCorner show anything from 2008? Can we see how last year’s staff matched up in the stats you were pointing out the other day like tRA and FIP?
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
He was the 38th most valuable starter in the big leagues last year...
Thats right he pitched like a top #2 starter contributing 2.7 WAR.
Im not sure what the bottom part means. Last years’ staff but here are Eveland and Braden
Lg avg tRA 4 .87
Lg avg FIP 4.32
Braden last year tRA 4.94 RAA -0.5 tRA+ 99 *tRA 4.97 FIP 4.57
Eveland last year tRA 5.33 RAA -8.3 tRA+ 91 *tRA 5.26 FIP 4.09
Obviously there are some discrepancies in the statistics… However you have to take into account that it is far easier to pitch in relief than it is to start. Honestly I know more about FIP than tRA so I would trust that last number a little more and I also might be mistaken but I think that tRA might hedge towards giving relievers more value if they come in with runners on base.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
Can we stop citing Braden's 4 walks as an example of bad control?
1 was intentional, so 3 walks in 5 innings is not nearly as bad, plus it puts him at 2.0 K/BB ratio on the day, which isn’t bad at all.
King Richard - April 30, 2009
There are also times to give in and times not to -
I’m going to write about this some day.
Cahill learned the hard way in ST when he fell behind Scott Hairston 3-1 with a couple on base and one out. In that situation, a Tim Hudson knows that a walk is better than a 3-run HR and he might throw a changeup, or try to locate a perfect sinker at the knees.
Cahill threw a “get me over” 4-seam fastball to avoid the walk and served up a 3-run HR. With the bases empty, that’s a pretty good choice of pitches; for the situation Cahill was in, not so much.
Braden knows when to give in and when not to, and it’s part of what makes him a good pitcher. I can’t speak for today’s game in particular, but I wouldn’t be surprised if at least a couple of the walks were in lieu of risking hits by giving in when he didn’t have to.
In fact, the notion that pitchers have no control over how many of the HRs allowed are solo HRs is false – just think about it.
Nico - April 30, 2009
But one can assume that a good number of young pitchers
simply don’t understand that they have that control. It’s part of the maturation process and it’s why you see guys like Jamie Moyer still pitching. He’s learned how to pitch with a very limited arsenal.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I think this is specious reasoning
Braden will get the “knows when to give in and when not to” nod solely on the favorable opinion of the person watching him. To my knowledge Kurt Suzuki calls games. He puts out a spot if a pitcher can’t hit it and it gets jacked then thats what happens when your control sucks. But the idea that a pitcher purposefully can control screw ups is kinda silly, otherwise they just wouldn’t screw up.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
All I have to say is
Braden is the balls!
mrod - April 30, 2009
How did the umpire call the bottom of the strike zone?
Judging by Game Day (OK not the best) he wasn’t calling the bottom for either team. The Rangers seem to adjust better to this ( fewer swings on low strikes) but both starting pitchers seemed to have higher counts than I would have expected from the pitch placement.
pyrfan - May 1, 2009
Agreed
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
Suzuki
Official sponsor and catcher on the A’s.
Is this guy playing well or what? I really love his hitting approach and his defense has been top notch as well. The A’s need to keep him around for a long time.
KCa's - April 30, 2009
A long term contract could be the kiss of death...
Just look at Chavez.
PortlandPachyderm - April 30, 2009
and crosby and harden
rktse - April 30, 2009
I agree with ya
The A’s are not an offensive juggernaut and having a catcher who is good behind the plate and while batting is a great bonus for the team. Kurt seems to get maximum production out of his physical tools, unlike the players mentioned below (Chavez, Crosby, Harden).
worldblee - May 1, 2009
can anyone tell me why KNBR never uses the a's broadcast for their radio highlights?
i find that to be one of the more annoying things about that station (apart from all the giants/niners hoopla)
jsnraider - April 30, 2009
Because KNBR exists to promote San Francisco
If they acknowledge that any other city in the Bay Area has anything to offer, people might start to realize that the rest of the Bay Area is actually quite nice, and not just an inferior backyard to the mighty San Francisco. That in turn might make it harder to sustain SF’s absurdly inflated property values.
iglew - April 30, 2009
Also the Giants own part of the station
mikev - April 30, 2009
So how's come that MGD country music singalong commercial
doesn’t bother me after we win like that?
I was tapping my toes to it. I always mute.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I've got a nice little parody of that that I sing to myself...
I’d share it with the rest of y’all, but I don’t want to get all 3 of my CGVs in one comment… Needless to say, it involves brutal sadism, cannibalism, and torturing John Lackey for fun…
Gaijin_Suketto - April 30, 2009
Must see/hear
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
agrd.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Is there any dead varmint poontang involved?
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
it ain't no
life is a highway
i want to ride it
all. night. loooong. woo-oo. woo-ooo
i would always catch myself singing that one. if they put some mixed metaphors in that MGD, i’d be down with it though.
AV - April 30, 2009
You are on the fringe of being a lunatic
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I thought I was on the fringe.
{feels rejected}
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
No.
You’ve run circles around the fringe. rawr.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Two trailer park girls went round the outside?
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
What?
I love trailer park girls.
They try hard.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
love that
song
AV - April 30, 2009
Isn't that a Pink Floyd rip?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Really?
Never heard that one. I sure hope Louden Swain still beat Brian Shoop or I don’t know what I’ll do :-0 (runs off screaming in a zig-zag pattern)
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
hmm...
never heard the similarity before now. probably because when lunatic fringe came out, it was under the banner of new wave, and pink floyd at the time was the old dinosaur that new wave was trying to drown. at the time, i used to get lunatic fringe crossed with saved by zero and a little bit of aldo nova’s fantasy. but yeah, in retro, i do suppose they’re alike, especially the rough guitar over mellow pacing… but i’m not sure it’s a rip.
AV - April 30, 2009
Saved by Zero?
Someone bought a Toyota?
GoA's - April 30, 2009
Video link of Sweeney's catch
here
doctorK - April 30, 2009
what a catch
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Kinsler's facial expression is precious
PortlandPachyderm - April 30, 2009
so is Sweeney's
“Look what I found in my glove!”
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Webgem #__
PortlandPachyderm - April 30, 2009
Yes of course!
No need to fill in the blank because we all know.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
11.
The Yankees and Red Sox have yet to play. Cano, Cabrera, Youkilis et al have yet to make routine plays.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I think they only do 5 webgems
This will be number 5
CarGon's Jock - April 30, 2009
It was, totally
“WTF?! How was that not out of here?”
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
wow
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
Love the headline, too:
“Heist in Texas”
pam5981 - April 30, 2009
just now seeing that for the first time....
awesome…
gigglingone - April 30, 2009
Just saw the catch in full size on MLB Network. Sexy.
Glad Holliday remembered he hadn’t homered in April and took care of that today, too.
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
Beautiful!
I’m playing that over and over and over.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
It was hilarious..
Sweeney is jogging in with the ball in his glove and tosses it into the stands towards a particularly boisterous group of Ranger fans. They toss it back on the field as if they can somehow reverse it by returning the ball to the field.
str8tarrow - April 30, 2009
Holliday was also grinning ear to ear after the catch
I think he cares a little bit.
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
He was like, "Ooh, that's a HOMER! Now I remember!
I should HIT one of those!!!"
Nico - April 30, 2009
Then the throw to third!
He just remembered he plays baseball as a vocation.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I want 20 more before I forgive him for this month.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I think you may get them.
I think he just woke up.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Is he the Kraken?
You wake Krakens, right?
Or like the Big Friendly Giant – terrified me as a kid mind.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
What the heck is the Big Friendly Giant?
Is that like Smacky the Frog or some other strange British concoction?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Roald Dahl book.
Made into a film.
Guess it didn’t cross the pond.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Kind of like the Manic Street Preachers?
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
You've been fortunate there.
Have Muse crossed over?
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
They are opening up for U2 in some US cities
I’m not going until October 11th so we’ll have to see if they are on that leg of the tour. I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re huge over here but they did play at Lollapalooza last year so it appears they are gaining steam.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I'm surprised by that, they're epically good.
Twice the band U2 are.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I'm a big U2 fan but I know plenty of folks
that still like Coldplay. We all have some issues.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I like U2 too, but Muse are amazingly good.
I like Coldplay too, go figure.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Coldplay was incredible but they just aren't the same
since Gwyneth entered the picture. I saw them at a small auditorium before most had heard of them and
it was an unforgettable show.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I'm technically in the video for 'Fix You',
somewhere in that crowd at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.
The new album isn’t as good as the old stuff, but most bands have a shelf life. Even the epic Foo Fighters are past it for mine…
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
That song...
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
....rocks, I agree.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Must have been spectaular live.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Something that has always amazed me is how music
can be so different in the UK and US. At times I’ll nearly laugh at what is popular across the pond (as you put it) but I’m sure you feel the same way about some of our music too. BTW- Just figured out where I first heard Muse. It was on XM radio.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Put it this way, country isn't popular over here...
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Oh. Wow.
I might move immediately because I hate country. Now I will admit that Willie Nelson and Hank Williams ain’t the same as Diamond Rio and The Kentucky Headhunters. Country music isn’t country music anymore.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
And yet,
country has influenced a lot of popular music.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
As an indicator of how NOT to do it?
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
LOL
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I disagree.
Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Tom Petty, Dire Straits, to name a few, have all taken something from country. I’m not wild about the genre per se, but it has its place.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
All of those bands are tremendous IMO
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I love the BFG!
And basically everything else by Roald Dahl. Especially The Witches.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
Also terrified me as a kid.
He was a sick man if you ask me.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Yes, and he eats Smarties and Polo mints
and when he has a Mars bar it tastes wrong.
Nick - April 30, 2009
20 may be the new 30
in non-steroid or HGH baseball.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Oh, to be 31 like Huston
iglew - April 30, 2009
I dunno
but I think that maybe a little part of holliday was scuffling thinking too much, down on himself and when Sweeney made that play it prlly made him forget about some of that stuff…timing is everything so im speculating maybe it was a good chain of events for him to forget about his problems at the plate and remember this is fun…So from my speculation thank you Ryan Sweeney for reminding him how much fun baseball is cuz im sure he was hating life
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Yea the Holliday not caring thing
that people have been saying was annoying me and the apparent interest he had in that catch should begin to debunk this theory…I hope
yawedout21 - April 30, 2009
Would this be a good time to revisit the case of Braden v. Eveland?
Pucking Insane - April 30, 2009
Please don't
Or I’ll be forced to bring out my argument on why Jason Windsor should be in the rotation :)
Helloooo 1st - April 30, 2009
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
No! As I wrote above, let's not argue this every time one of them pitches
Check back in two years and see how each pitcher is doing; nothing is “proven” anyway in a small sample and I personally plan to root for both to pitch great.
Nico - April 30, 2009
As I replied above:
You are correct, sir. Decidedly so.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
SOT........A-Rod did steroids in high school.....
and I don’t give a shit.
:q
mrod - April 30, 2009
!!!!
1. I was mostly kind-of-not-really paying attention to the game online today. That last-minute lineup switch really confused Yahoo for a while there.
2. I heard a couple innings in the car; unfortunately, Fosse was calling one of them. Generally, I much prefer radio to computer, but in this case, it is SO much better to “watch” on gameday than listen to Fosse try to do play-by-play.
3. Pictures!
4. Why wasn’t this game on TV? Boo!
5. Good day.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
I did not have to see
your name to know you were responsible.
Or shall I say, reliable?
Awesome. I may have to get that second one tattooed on my neck.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
I am nothing if not predictable.
This picture requires a caption.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
Hmm...
I’m in the newspaper-clipping department. Nico does captions.
Stay predictable.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
"Woah, nice ass. Hope he catches the ball."
Nico - April 30, 2009
Dear whiteshoes40:
Toldja.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
'Patterson wonders how Ellis makes this look so easy'
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
if i can't catch the ball...
i may as well shoot at it with my finger gun!
Jjjsixsix - April 30, 2009
"Failing at anything baseball-related, Eric Patterson begins to compile his 'Dancing With the Stars' audition tape."
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
While doing his best 'The Fonz' impersonation, Eric Patterson is suddenly called into duty
A'sfaninNC - May 1, 2009
I likes your pictures.
you um good.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Funny how both Sweeney and Holliday are jumping for joy
PortlandPachyderm - April 30, 2009
Can we have Sweeney, Holliday, and Buck
in the OF every day? Pweese? I’m in love!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
i'm not the only one for which the front page insists it's still the 8th inning, right?
Jjjsixsix - April 30, 2009
The home run never actually happened.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
But
There’s a picture of him high-fiving Buck after rounding the bases. You posted it. Everyone else sees it, right?
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
Photoshop.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
Looks like Chavez is going to the DL now, too
Fun.
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
As much as I dislike the idea of Chavez to the DL,
I like the idea of having only 1 player (Giambi) that will need regular time off, vs. having 3 players (Giambi, Nomar, Chavez) who cannot play every day.
drink409 - April 30, 2009
agreed
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
whooo!
let’s go midland!!
Jjjsixsix - April 30, 2009
Good.
I imagine we’ll see MoneyPenny then as the org seems to hate Petit.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Neyer on Holliday
warning: not complimentary about Holliday nor the A’s
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot/0-1-153/Holding-Holliday-accountable.html
closetasfan - April 30, 2009
Well come on
We weren’t expecting compliments. That would break the earth or something.
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
I don't think he was dissing the A's
I think he was making fun of the east coast bias in the media. If Holliday was pulling this shit in NY or BOS dead animals would arrive on his doorstep with the NY Post blasting him for sucking. He was just pointing out that because the media forgets we exist, that isn’t happening.
designatedforassignment - April 30, 2009
Not to mention, of course,
that everything he said about Holliday was 100% correct.
Personally, I think Holliday’s struggles are one of the most “underplayed” developments of the season, so far. Any other city, and Holliday is getting roasted daily by now.
And it would be justly deserved. We get the guy for one reason — to provide power in the middle of the lineup. Period. Horrible job thus far.
Vacafan - April 30, 2009
not that it's a guarantee
but Pennington is not in the starting lineup for the Rivercats tonight
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
That's a pretty good predictor if you ask me.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
it is a good indicator
but not 100% since we’ve seen some exceptions.
Rivercats did call up an infielder from Midland – Chin – who’s starting at 2b
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
I'm curious why they took Chin over Wimberly.
On the surface, Wimberly’s numbers look a bit better.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Not to mention his socks
OK I mentioned his socks.
Nico - April 30, 2009
Well, I wasn't gonna say it, but YEAH!
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
The backflips alone should get him a major league callup
This may explain why I’m not a professional scout.
Nico - April 30, 2009
Now you're talking!
Heaven forbid we call someone up who might put butts in the seats!
{books ticket to Midland}
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
I go to many games throughout the year, but I would make sure to get tickets to the 1st few home games if Wimberly were called up just to see the backflips. It’d guarantee my butt in a few extra seats this season.
drink409 - April 30, 2009
Free Corey Wimberly!
pam5981 - April 30, 2009
Well
considering I was your first official hire…what was the question again?
67MARQUEZ - April 30, 2009
FWIW Slusser wrote tonight
that Petit will be called up
this despite the fact that Petit played in today’s Rivercats game and Pennington didn’t
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
Woah - that'd be cool. At least he plays some killer-D
Nico - April 30, 2009
Tough to play killer D when you're stuck on the bench.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Actually, Wimberly is not in Midland’s lineup tonight…
TBRMKane - April 30, 2009
{does backflip}
Ow.
Nico - April 30, 2009
Copeland to 60-day DL?
TBRMKane - April 30, 2009
No, my name isn't Copeland
And again, ow.
Nico - April 30, 2009
can they put a Rule 5 pick on the 60 day DL
I’m guessing no, since if he’s on the 15 day DL he’s still on the 25 man roster (a requirement for a Rule 5 pick). Someone on the 60 day DL wouldn’t be on either the 25 man nor the 40 man roster.
This assumes they don’t want to send him back to the Giants yet.
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
Activate him from the 15-day DL and DFA.
TBRMKane - April 30, 2009
they can't DFA him
he’s a Rule 5 guy. If they drop him from the 25 man roster at any time during this season they have to offer him back to the Giants for half of what they paid for him.
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
He appears to still be with Midland.
But Recker was sent down to Midland today.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
he's still on Midland's roster
and Chen is now on the Rivercats roster (which he’d have to be, since he’s playing for the Rivercats as we speak).
Then again, Pennington is still on the Rivercats roster, although he’s not playing in tonight’s game.
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
so pennington up?
without debating whether or not that is the best decision, it would seem to be the most logical conclusion given how the a’s have treated pennington and petit, etc.
Jjjsixsix - April 30, 2009
Chavy hasn't been DLed yet, so no official callup
but it looks like this is what will be announced tomorrow.
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
just 60- day dl chavy already
who are we kidding? he said himself he’ll probly be day to day all year
9Custs - April 30, 2009
Carlos Gonzalez
is 3-3 tonight vs Mazzaro. Hes batting .311 with 2HRs 23RBIs with a .950 OPS. Hes walked 9 times and struck out 15. I want him back!
Syphon - April 30, 2009
That confused me for about 5 seconds.
“Wait, how is Carlos facing Mazzaro, since they’re on the same team?”
…yeah. Wishful thinking.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
CarGon just hits an RBI triple .
:(
Syphon - April 30, 2009
I think he's bitter.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I'm not gay but he looked pretty good in an A's uni
Thought he would be a “good” but possibly GREAT player.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
The fact you have to qualify your hetrosexuality makes me question it....
Though yeah, Gonzales definately has the look of a fantastic baseball player. Maybe he fulfils that potential, maybe not. Either way it’s not our problem anymore.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Not that there is anything wrong with that
but my girlfriend might be upset.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
You never know, she might be into threesomes.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
I'm the only pitcher that will play on her team.
It’s my job to lose!
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
If you don't stay set at the belt long enough, is it a balk?
Nico - April 30, 2009
Good one, Nico!
She will be attending her 1st A’s game in the near future. She has bought me quite a bit of gear so she is already trying to fit in.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
Chavez
needs to go on the DL and hire himself a personal trainer to get back in shape. I sense that he keeps returning too soon. Just a note: A’s are 1-7 with Chavez starting this year and 7-4 when he is not. I’m not by any means blaming the losses on him, it’s just a fact. I’m thinking maybe this 3b situation is affecting the whole team.
SFBAsportsfan - April 30, 2009
I think he's just one of those players that will never be healthy
To be perfectly honest I don’t think we can assume that he is doing something wrong or that he can do something different and become healthy. I feel terrible for him and worse for the A’s.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I think it's increasingly likely that whenever his contract is up with the A's,
Chavez will retire. And that’s kind of sad, considering the talent he has and potential he once had.
Nico - April 30, 2009
that means after 2010
when the guaranteed part of his contract is up, and all that’s left is a club option for 2011
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
Or he'll suddenly be healthy and have four seasons of 30 hrs, 100rbis whilst playing
GG defence. We are cursed afterall.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Nah, that'll happen when he steps in for an injured Alex Rodriguez in 2011
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
Seriously, he needs to retire right now. He can't play anymore.
Vacafan - April 30, 2009
operator: “911 emergency”
caller: "this is Ian Kinsler I’ve just been robbed!!
operator: “describe who it was”
caller: “he wore green, I think he’s an Oakland A”
operator: “you say he’s an A, sir?”
caller: “yes, he was!”
operator: “I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do sir”
caller: “what?! Why not?”
operator: “lack of evidence”
caller: “evidence?”
operator: “yes, evidence…video proof”
caller: “wha?”
operator: “no one takes pictures of the Oakland baseball team”
caller: “are you serious?!”
operator: "I’m afraid so…but please call us if you are robbed in Boston, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. Then I can help you…
Kallus - April 30, 2009
LOL!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
sad...but true
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
QOM
right there.
Athletics fan and runner - April 30, 2009
definitly QOTM
walkoff baltimore chop - May 1, 2009
Rec'd
worldblee - May 1, 2009
Awesome
baseballgirl - May 1, 2009
Wow - rough night for Mazzaro:
4 IP, 12 hits, 6 ER. Carlos Gonzalez went 5-5 with 2 triples and 5 RBI.
Nico - April 30, 2009
Was that in Sac-town or on the moon?
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
Colorado Springs
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
Less of an issue then.
OldhamA - April 30, 2009
for sure. paul harvey....the rest of the story.
ak_A - April 30, 2009
Yup, because we've certainly learned already
that numbers in Colorado are waaaaaaaaaay over-rated.
Vacafan - April 30, 2009
I'm really sad now.
Mazzaro is a long way away and I wish we still had CarGon.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
You'll forget about CarGon
in a few years. He’s probably not anything special, just unfulfilled hype.
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
Carlos' hits: 1 infield hit, 1 bunt for a hit, 1 double, 2 triples
another fun fact: Barton has had only 10 hits, but 12 RBIs
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
I know that a lot of peeps don't like the NBA
but Bulls/Celtics is an epic battle like the 1st round has never seen. Heading into triple-OT…
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
it won't matter
It’s gonna be Lebron v. Kobe in the finals anyway…
Damn you Spurs :(
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
LA matches up very well too.
Lakers will take it.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
agreed...sadly
but then again, i’m more prone to watch a regular season baseball game than the NBA finals…so what do i know
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
Did anyone read Urban's last blog entry?
Something about Chavvy throwing people under the bus?
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
sounds like Urban was saying that Chavy
was trying to look on the bright side of players getting DLed, since it would give opportunities for others…now this conversation that Urban had (and it’s not really fair to Chavy since we don’t have his words, but onlly Urban’s spin) was before Chavy was scratched from today’s game.
OaklandSi - April 30, 2009
I don't understand even after reading that one.
Is Chavy faking? Is Ellis faking? Is Nomar faking? Is Giambi faking? I don’t see any reason to question any of those guys.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
I don't get it either
And if Urban’s going to bring up the fact that he asked Chavy the same question eight times, he might as well just reveal what he originally said.
day-to-day - April 30, 2009
Well I don't think this will be the last time we question what Urban
is trying to say. For being a writer he certainly can be pretty vague when trying to get his point across. That is if he even has a point.
ohtobe21likehuston - April 30, 2009
The only thing I could infer was that maybe Chavez was suggesting
that guys who were in a slump were using “injury” as an excuse? Kind of like when you shoot an airball and then start limping a little to suggest that you would never have done that if you weren’t bravely playing through pain you forgot to mention. Not that I’ve ever done that.
Nico - April 30, 2009
My thought was that Chavvy was just commenting on how everyone was hitting like crap lately...
… so maybe the injuries might turn out to be a positive thing— if the newbies can hit, that is. I have no problem with that.
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
I think your spot on, Nico
I think this is what Urban meant by “reading between the lines”. Though, if he really wanted us to get this message, he should have just told us. If not, he shouldn’t have said anything. This Urban post was kind of confusing.
DyeLongJustice - May 1, 2009
I think what he's daying is
he’s a shitty writer and has no clue how to express nuance or subtext whatsoever.
That, or he writes drunk.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Daying-Oh!
Day, Daying-Oh!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Sorry.
I’m a smart ass bitch.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Yeah, you are.
Must be why I like you.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I promise NOT to be a smart ass bitch to you.
Just fluffy.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
ooo, I like it when you sweet talk me...
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
You are yummy,
so its easy enough.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
yummy and fluffy.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Haha!
Bordering on CGV territory here.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
I don't think adjectives are CGVs...
Leopold Bloom - May 1, 2009
Oh Ya, and I decided Swooney's walk up music should be
“all right now” by Free. He’s decidedly awesome to watch, but you already knew that.
DyeLongJustice - April 30, 2009
Sweeney's #1 on Web Gems. (For what it's worth)
And Holliday’s HR was on the Touch ’Em All segment.
drink409 - April 30, 2009
As well he should be.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
And he's pretty hawt too.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
We have some of the cutest boys in baseball,
we do!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
(ahem.)
(Thanks, Kimberly!)
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
Oh Yeah!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Also.
whiteshoes40 - April 30, 2009
You just know LB is wanting to brush that.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Is brush a euphaism for something else?
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Could be, but I think its more about the hair.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Oh, I thought he wanted to hit that.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
can't it be both?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Of course!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Having said that,
and after watching the catch over and over, Kinsler is damned hot too! Talk about your tall, dark, and handsome!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
You called?
Nico - April 30, 2009
Haha!
You do fit the bill.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
TRAITOR!
He’s a RANGER, Lynn. A RANGER. Remember the chair-throwing? that was these ass clowns. Screw them.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Ah, there are some cute ass clowns on that team.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
TRAITOR!
LOOK AT OUR ASS CLOWNS! NOT THEIRS!
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
In case you haven't noticed, I do look at our ass clowns!
Wait! Our guys are NOT ass clowns! At least not the ones I look at!
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
None of our guys are ass clowns,
or hats, or…
Well, there might be a couple.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
ummm...I can think of a few who play like ass.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
So, in this example ass is bad, right?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Omg! Sorry!
But he’s a hottie. I don’t diss your choices!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
My choices play for us!
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Okay, I guess I can live with you both liking Rangers.
But I don’t want to hear either of you ever talk about a Red Sock, Yankee or Angel.
Deal?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Absolutely!
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Um...
wait! What about Swisher?
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
He doesn'tcount.
He was an A.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Deal. For a second there, I thought we were going to be kicked out of the love shack.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
No chance.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Not a chance.
We’re in like Flynn.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Whew!
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
I like the sound of that.
Flynn…
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Yayyy!
me too.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
it's like combining two things...
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Can you make me one too?
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Fgail?
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
I know.
Me likey.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
I suppose it doesn't matter if it male or female.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Well, logistically, it has to.
They have different parts, you know.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Tell me how it works, Dad.
ZigFan31 - April 30, 2009
Oh, I don't like this game,
You usually end up crying when I ground you, and you miss the prom.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
box scores
Long’s catch:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200208070.shtml
Face tag:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200507220.shtml
Sulk off:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200508110.shtml
Athletics fan and runner - April 30, 2009
Let's sign Holliday to a long deal.
Lets try to get him on the cheaps
Socalfan21 - April 30, 2009
He turned down a pretty fat payday from Colorado
Ain’t nothing changed that much in only a month of play. Homeboy is destined for a large paycheck next season, no matter how he plays during this one.
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
Seriously!
I mean, come on, ESPN viewers wouldn’t know that he’ll have hit .216/12HR/53 RBI for the "09 campaign. They’ll think he took a year off to cure cancer! (since, of course, no one heard from him for 162 games)
Kallus - April 30, 2009
Indeed
Fact of the matter is, even if he has a down year, Boras will find some team who is convinced of it. That is to say, the man may in fact be Dante Bichette, but some GM out there will be buy into the fact that sucking for only one year leaves open the logical possibility that Holliday just had a rough go of it in 2009. That he was “pressing” for a new contract. Hopefully, he hits well enough from here on out to remove all doubt, because either way, someone will price him out of the Athletics’ range.
Joey C. - May 1, 2009
Fun game to watch
Mitigated only by the fact that I fear the A’s are once again a collection a few legitimate major leaguers surrounded by struggling AAA-ers after this recent rash of injuries. I think I’ve officially scaled back my expectations. It’s probably for the best— my blood pressure while watching Vicente Padilla pretend to pitch and get away with it was definitely not in the healthy range.
Sweeney is a man-child, and a hot-hitting Holliday makes me happy.
Joey C. - April 30, 2009
we made BB2N tonight.
…only 40 minutes into the hour show.
The most exciting game we’ve had all year and we’re 40 minutes in. I watched. It’s Garza up first. No hitter through six versus the Red Sox. Okay, I could see it. Then The Angels/Yankees game. Grr. THEN the whole A-Rod thing. Then demonstration of how A-Rod could tip off the hitters. Then the Cards game. Then a serious look at Pujols and how and why he’s doing so well. Then the NL-April awards. Then the Cubs.Marlins game. Then a montage of April webgems (where they apologized to Swooney for NOT INCLUDING HIM). Then the A’s highlights, which started in the 7th and Every Day Eddie getting kicked out.
Buster said it might be the play of the year. So they included it in at the 40 minute mark. I hate ESPN. Seriously. I want to write another nasty letter. This is about the same time I did last year (and much earlier than two years ago). I really should completely stop watching them.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Why are you still watching ESPN?
I mean seriously, with MLB Network, what’s the need? ESPN is no longer the standard bearer.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 30, 2009
Blez,
Reason #3,567 Florida sucks: get this. The DAY MLB Network came out here ,i spent 2 hours on the phone with Comcast, trying to figure out how to subscribe (it’s not free here like the Bay Area). THEY COULDN’T FIGURE IT OUT. Just so you understand me, I wanted to give them money to turn on a station they had started to provide. They couldn’t figure out how to turn it on for me.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
well, it is Florida, after all
…not that I was one of the 382 people who bothered to show up to see the Rays clinch the pennant, though. Joking aside, I get the feeling that florida is not baseball country.
Kallus - April 30, 2009
it's not homo sapien country.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
No offense to Florida
it’s just that Florida residents tend to be more interested in football (Tebow freakin rules), and nascar (been to Daytona…awesome), and some basketball.
Kallus - April 30, 2009
Actually, as far as a
nesting place goes, Florida sees a lot of young talent, like high school.
Leopold Bloom - May 1, 2009
And you cannot offend Florida in my eyes.
I live in this shithole of a state. Nothing could be more offensive.
Leopold Bloom - May 1, 2009
that's good
I wouldn’t want you to go all John Lackey on me…raising your hands, and givin me the stank eye
Kallus - May 1, 2009
Dude....you said it all right there.
Screw ESPN! MLB Network is the new girl in town!
mrod - April 30, 2009
I used to watch Baseball Tonight simply because it was the only beast of its kind
I begun weaning myself off of it. The MLB Network is by no means immune to the Big Market Bias, but it at least tries a little harder to report on less lucrative teams. And it employs Vasgersian, whom I like quite a lot.
Joey C. - May 1, 2009
I "have" begun
Muchos typos esta noche.
Joey C. - May 1, 2009
slusser update
says petit to be called up
holliday adding back his leg kick which he ditched with mcgwire workouts and messed up his timing…thanks big mac!!
Asfan4ever723 - April 30, 2009
but he fixed Crosby for us...
nevermind.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
but Canseco said that McGwire "workouts" leave track marks on your bum...
sorry. I was a huge Mac fan growing up. But I won’t talk about the past. (Sorry again!)
Kallus - April 30, 2009
speaking of,
in the 23rd minute of BB2N, when they were analyzing Pujols, I noticed they have a Big Mac zone in left field at the Card’s place. That doesn’t sound/feel like we hate him, don’t come back to me.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
bad joke on my part
I truly was a big Mac fan as a kid. Loved the guy. He really should be in the hall, and I think he could be, though just not in the very near future.
Kallus - April 30, 2009
oh I doubt anyone here is offended by insulting McGwire's reputation.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Steroids Schmeroids!
Kallus - April 30, 2009
oops...
I mean Andro Schmandro
Kallus - April 30, 2009
Me too!
But when I was a young woman. He was a hero to me.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Sorry. Maybe hero isn't the right word.
He was a baseball role model…well shit. I just liked him.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
First time all year
Holliday has looked interested/excited was when he was congratulating Sweeney on his catch. Hopefully he keeps it up, but I’m not going to count on it yet.
sprtsnwyn - April 30, 2009
I don't think Holliday is excited to be in Oakland...
I have thought that from day one. I don’t think he’s givin 100% out there either quite honestly… 1 HR and 12 RBIs through 20 games… really…
Socalfan21 - April 30, 2009
Or, maybe, he's trying too hard and suffering as a result.
Flashfire - April 30, 2009
Cripes, really?
The man is playing for a contract. What exactly is his incentive to not try? It’s possible to play baseball without acting like F-Rod every time you perform a baseball-related activity.
Joey C. - May 1, 2009
Holliday
The real issue with him may be that he’s a product of Coors Field. The statistics suggest that he was a very good player in Colorado, but no so special on the road.
In a new league, and a pitcher’s park, Holliday may simply be an above-average hitter – but nothing special.
I don’t think he lacks motivation. He has the motviation of every baseball player in the last year of his contract. He wants a big contract. He’s a mercenary, so I don’t care if he smiles and jokes a lot. That would just make me like the guy, and I don’t want to like him. After all, he’s already talked about signing with the Yankees.
bear88 - April 30, 2009
not so special
“no so special” works well enough, but makes me sounds like a bit of an idiot.
bear88 - April 30, 2009
You're not an idiot...
and very special. I look forward to these.
My hope is Matt changes his mind. This team has so much promise, and so much to offer. I’d like that promise to show itself in time for him to sign long term with us. Just saying.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
agd,
you’re one of my favorite posters.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
Don't get your hopes up
I don’t think Holliday resigns with the A’s under any circumstances.
If he has a bad year, he’s going to want out of Oakland and will blame the pitchers’ park and the new league for his problems.
If he has a good year, Holliday will be too rich for us.
I think Beane made the trade assuming Holliday was a rental, and have always been dubious about the trade for that reason.
bear88 - April 30, 2009
You're right, you're right,
I know you’re right. That OF today was a dream though.
lynnzgal - April 30, 2009
Maybe Crosby can fill the void left by Holliday
once he is traded?
lol…
MMunoz33 - May 1, 2009
I say let the cards fall where they may
and the rest will take care of itself.
Go A’s!
mrod - April 30, 2009
They bought their tickets.
They knew what they were getting into.
I say, let ’em crash.
Leopold Bloom - April 30, 2009
haha! I love it!
mrod - May 1, 2009
Two Great Bill King Calls: A's Steal From Manny and Manny Steals From Sox For A's
Bill King’s call of Terrence Long’s game-ending catch of what would have been Manny Ramirez’s game-winning home run is legendary… but I prefer another Bill King call of a classic Manny moment.
The Sox had Manny on first and another player on third in the bottom of the ninth against the A’s at Fenway with one out. The batter hits a routine fly to the outfield, it is caught, both Sox runners tag and, with a classic display of false hustle, Manny races into second base and is tagged out before the other runner reached home, turning what would have been a game-tying sacrifice fly into a game-ending double play.
muscatel - May 1, 2009
I was at that game ...
Manny was actually on second base … he thought the throw would go to the plate so he “nonchalanted” it into third, where Miggy tagged him out before the runner (Nixon, I believe) crossed home.
Thank goodness, because it was the only game the A’s won that weekend. It was ’01, if I remember correctly. My first trip to Fenway.
Vacafan - May 1, 2009
It Was Actually Carl Everett
who was at second and was tagged out at third… Nixon was the the runner at third (as you remembered) and Manny was at first. Everett was a very aggressive, often over-aggressive player… think Randy Velarde when the PEDs went to his head.
muscatel - May 25, 2009
Any updates on Gio and Gallagher?
I’m ready to see more Denorfia AB’s in Oakland rather than Sacremento…
MMunoz33 - May 1, 2009
NEW THREAD OPEN! :-)
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2009/5/1/861559/open-thread-friday-heres-hoping
baseballgirl - May 1, 2009
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