It’s pretty difficult to rack up seven hits and three walks in five innings and not score a single run, but that’s what the A’s offense managed to do tonight against Nick Adenhart (who would throw six innings in total). That should be a big clue as to how frustrating tonight’s game was in the early innings. But it was truly a game that rewarded the long-suffering fan, because when it was all said and done, it was the A’s--despite being down 4-0 after seven--who would rally back to win the game.
I’m not sure if the A’s offensive strategy is to peck other teams to death with singles, but after racking up twelve of them last night; they put fifteen on the board again tonight.
When I saw the lineup tonight, I was excited to see Rajai Davis get a chance to start in place of the missing (again) Matt Holliday. In addition to really liking Davis, and wanting him to see some playing time, I love his defense; I think he’s a great, take-charge center fielder. He also doesn’t drop balls in the outfield, and he’s fast enough not to hit into double-plays.
Usually.
Unfortunately for Rajai (and his chances of playing his way into more games), he did both tonight; dropping a fly ball after a long run at the height of the Angels’ rally to help them score their three runs, and hitting into a double-play to end one of the A’s early chances for their own rally. He’s had better nights.
The A’s threatened in the very first inning, as Sweeney walked as the leadoff hitter. After Cabrera flied out, Giambi singled Sweeney to third, in what looked like a promising rally, but after Chavez struck out on a nasty curveball, Suzuki would ground out to end the inning.
Eveland looked as sharp as possible in his half of the first, retiring the Angels in just 11 pitches. The A’s put two more runners on in the top of the second on singles by Ellis and Sweeney, but Cabrera grounded out to end the inning.
The Angels would break the scoreless tie in the fourth inning, as Eveland would give up three singles to start the inning, and then a deep fly ball to center field that Rajai Davis appeared to run down, but just not catch, as it bounced right off the edge of his glove. It was a tough play, but it should have been made. The Angels would score 3 that inning, and lead the A’s 3-0.
The A’s tried to mount a comeback in the top of the fifth, after Sweeney singled and Orlando Cabrera got a hit (!!!) to start the inning, but Adenhart struck out Giambi, got Chavez to fly out deep, and may have pitched around Cust, loading the bases again for Suzuki.
Good batting average in 2008 or not, I’m not sold on Suzuki hitting sixth with a healthy Mark Ellis in the lineup, but it’s hard to complain about his 3-5 night. However, his other two at-bats--both with the bases loaded--were frustrating. Not only did he take the best pitch he would see all day for a strike in the first, and follow it up by swinging at a ball out of the zone for the easy groundout, but his fifth inning at-bat, on a 2-0 count, resulted in a routine grounder to the shortstop. Note to the team: If you are swinging after the pitcher has thrown six straight balls, you had better get your pitch.
The Angels added a run to their 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, after Springer walked Figgins; a bad start to any inning. After an overthrow by Suzuki (or a non-aggressive play by Cabrera) on the steal, Figgins was in position to score, increasing the deficit to 4; merely an insurance run at the time, but it would be the difference in the game to start the ninth.
The A’s would close the gap in the eighth, as Cust and Suzuki singled to start the inning. After Travis Buck was called out on strikes (making him 0-4 with three K’s on the night, and fueling my irrational dislike), Mark Ellis hit a routine ground ball that Figgins inexplicably threw home, allowing the first run of the game to score. We then had a Matt Holliday sighting as the tying run, and after a wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position, Holliday was called out on strikes. Ryan Sweeney came up with two outs and two hits already on the day…and added a third; with a two-run single to bring the A’s to 4-3. He promptly stole second, but Cabrera grounded out to end the inning.
Andrew Bailey survived an error by Ellis in the ninth inning, and pitched well, as he gave the A’s one more chance in the ninth.
After tough lefty closer Fuentes walked Giambi to start the inning, Bobby Crosby made his first appearance of 2009 as his pinch-runner (and later as the A's right-fielder). Fuentes struck out Chavez easily, and got Cust to fly out, but with two outs, Suzuki managed to put an infield single between the pitcher and the catcher, and get to first base.
Enter Nomar Garciaparra for Travis Buck in a pinch-hitting appearance, and after fouling off some tough pitches, specifically the 2-2 changeup after a high fastball, he singled in the tying run. Ellis singled in the 5th run of the night, and Matt Holliday the 6th, giving the A’s--and closer Brad Ziegler--the two run cushion.
Ziggy struck out Aybar to start the ninth, but gave up an infield single to Figgins (when he failed to cover first), but got Kendrick to ground out (a hard smash off Ziggy's shin that deflected to Chavez), and finally, Abreu to ground out for Ziggy's second save of the young season.
BIG win for the A’s; turning frustration into elation, and after looking at a 1-2 deficit in the series, the A’s now have a chance to win the series with a win tomorrow night.
Same time, same place; we do it all over again.
0 recs | 316 comments
That was awesome.
I’m gonna be hating this tomorrow. But it was worth it.
Leopold Bloom - April 8, 2009
Sounds like what I say every Saturday night
Nico - April 8, 2009
i looooooove the A's vs. angels games!
they are always so damn exciting!
GREAT WIN TODAY!
gotgreen - April 8, 2009
Time to mosey
on over to HalosHeaven.
I’m pitiful.
Emmett89 - April 8, 2009
I was thinking the same thing.
Leopold Bloom - April 8, 2009
I’ll just observe.
Rated-R Superstar - April 8, 2009
You think I'm pitiful?!
:(
Emmett89 - April 8, 2009
Sometimes it's fun to go watch the crying.
I couldn’t help it, I had to go read it, too.
UncleLeo - April 8, 2009
We all do it
everybody does it
it gets rid of the jitters
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
I've just discovered
that there’s nothing like reading HH after an Angels collapse and listening to Celebration and Rock ’n Roll All Nite.
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
O/T From MLB message board (LOL)
I know #12, I talked to him a few days ago on the phone. He lives in West Hollywood
http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=mlb&id=general&tid=4554723&lid=4
Trainman - April 8, 2009
Believe it or not
I’m #16 on that list.
VORP is too nerdy - April 8, 2009
This will astound both of you, but
I don’t care!!! :-)
Nico - April 8, 2009
wow
Junior high is awesome
Buck Turgidson - April 8, 2009
Since I've been railing on Geren
(who I generally quite like as a manager) for his ridiculously dumb lineups, let me applaud him for playing the 9th inning perfectly, IMO. Letting the 3 lefties bat because they are 3 of your best hitters, and then using Nomar for Buck, was the right way to go.
And I like his willingness to “do what you need to do now, worry about who plays in the field later,” something the A’s didn’t do for years when they kept a third catcher on the roster to avoid hypothetical problems that never actually existed.
Ken kept saying the A’s had given up the DH but wasn’t he wrong about that? Cust, not Giambi, was the DH, right? And Cust never came out.
Incredible win, and the Suzuki nubber combined with the Ziggy-Chavy carom made me feel like maybe the Angels don’t get to be insanely lucky every year?
Nico - April 8, 2009
When did they keep a third catcher?
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
The best part
I got home from work just in time for the 7th-9th…. awesome ending! Thanks guys!
I was jumping and yelling in the living room, and scared my dogs so they started barking :)
I look forward to more excitement tomorrow.
streetfan - April 8, 2009
if this was a real bar, all the "a's suck" and "game over" folks from the last two games would get a kick in the nuts
xbhaskarx - April 8, 2009
A's suck. Game Over.
Come on. Give it to me.
VORP is too nerdy - April 8, 2009
xbhaskarx - April 8, 2009
That's not really a kick, xbox...
Nick - April 8, 2009
even though the cubs are my NL team
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
Obviously they're no friend of Vince.
ElQuesoCapitan - April 8, 2009
Because they have ears?
Nico - April 8, 2009
Because they didn't love nuts.
ElQuesoCapitan - April 8, 2009
Why, why, whyy are there bears in the game thread????
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
This is better
mikev - April 8, 2009
To be fair, the game is over
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Is it?
In the grand scheme of things, is the game ever truly over?
Leopold Bloom - April 8, 2009
I suppose I'm not scheming grandly enough
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Or grandly scheming enough.
VORP is too nerdy - April 8, 2009
Or gruffly scamming a ding
Nico - April 8, 2009
stay out of my next book!
It just confuses everyone.
Leopold Bloom - April 8, 2009
Then my house is a bar!
That explains all the alcohol.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Ryan Sweeney should change his number to 22
FoolshGame22 - April 8, 2009
What would your number be?
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
I haven't made the roster yet
FoolshGame22 - April 8, 2009
FoolshOverpaid4thOF
xbhaskarx - April 8, 2009
killfile...
FoolshGame22 - April 8, 2009
Eric Chavez's defense deserves a mention.
So insanely glad that the guy is healthy (knock on wood) and playing the defense we’ve all taken for granted.
lenscrafters - April 8, 2009
Yes, it was worth his weak AB vs Fuentes
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
He did almost double down the left-field line
(before waving pitifully at a slider).
Nico - April 8, 2009
It was a nice try, but he's generally toast if he doesn't hit the one fastball he gets vs lefties
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Best win of the year so far
Yep.
Flashfire - April 8, 2009
The first one is always special though
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
I thought last game was the first win
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
That was a definite loss for the 2008 A's
I’m liking the versatility of this year’s A’s. The combos are better and if they can stay healthy, I like our chances.
Nothing like coming from the brink of defeat, breaking their closer and having our boy Ziggy deliver the knockout punch!
I’ll be celebrating in my dreams tonight!
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
Man the Angels Played Like Crap ... Lovin' It...
Since we’re already 3 full games into the season, have we seen enough to know that, with runners in scoring position, in important ABs, with a left handed pitcher on the mound … Chavvy is just not the guy you want up there? Is there another team in baseball whose #4 hitter, in that situation, seems like such an automatic out?
Wow. Gotta love the hits. As has been said earlier, last year if this club got down by 2 past the 5th it was over. And of course last year Angel’s club would have brought K-Rod in…
solotar - April 8, 2009
Yet had Nomar pinch hit for Chavy (and singled),
it would have come down to bases loaded two out for Buck, with no pinch hitter available.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Wow. You're thinking several moves ahead, Grandmaster.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
LOL - check the thread
I asked for Geren to do exactly what he did. Good Geren!
Nico - April 8, 2009
Yes, I remember it well.
No need to check.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Thing is, you could make a case for hitting Nomar for Chavez,
precisely because of what happened. But I thought this was the right way to go.
Nico - April 8, 2009
I think I'd rather have Chavez bat than Buck vs a lefty
But it does highlight a weakness
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Powell could have hit for Buck......
OldhamA - April 8, 2009
To make his major league debut?
I don’t think so. I mean Sean Gallagher could have pinch hit too. (Except he has more major league ABs.)
Nico - April 8, 2009
It was tongue in cheek.
OldhamA - April 8, 2009
Ah. Had you said Colin Powell I would have been totally on board
Nico - April 8, 2009
The problem is...
…Suzuki SHOULD have gotten out on that ball; we all know that. Nomar would never have seen a pitch had that happened. And you can’t have that.
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
Tailgate Party at Opening Game in Oakland???
A few weeks ago someone posted about arranging a tailgate party at the opening game on Friday. It sounded like a good idea at the time so I bought a couple of tickets & convinced my wife to attend. In the meantime, I have not seen another comment about it. If anyone has any current info about the logistics (time, where to meet, etc.), feel free to comment on the subject.
Vegas Ace - April 8, 2009
Yes, it's happening
Should be posted soon (*cough*Lynnzgal*cough*)
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
Tomorrow,
early. Have you no faith?
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
I have faith
Just wanted to make sure the celebration didn’t distract you
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
Or that the cupcakes didn't, lol!
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
check this thread
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
OK
- Again more OF-IF problems this game, that Ellis-Buck play was horrible. Hopefully this gets fixed as the season goes along.
- Bailey has some serious potential. Fastball was around 94-95 and he showed good control.
- I know its only 3 games but, Buck might want to start hitting, we don’t want flashbacks of last year
- I hate Angels fans for shouting “DL” at Chavy, not cool. Then they shouted “K” at Cust, but that doesnt bother me at all.
- Chavez D like lens said was amazing again, hopefully he gets going on the plate
- Dana really started bad having a crapload of 3-1 counts, our starting pitching survives another day
- With all the hits we’re getting, I would have loved to see Holliday in the middle of the lineup this 2 games, oh well, hopefully we keep it going tomorrow.
- Gary Matthews sucks
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Regarding your first comment, Ellis has become really cheap
Seriously, at one point he was under a buck.
Nico - April 8, 2009
LOL
I think Buck would have caught that actually, but again, I feel like the D needs to start communicating, and by that I mean shouting at each other when this type of plays happen
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Or at least shouting at each other in the dugout afterwards
Nico - April 8, 2009
I can't possibly imagine that happening with the A's
even when we had Payton, Bradley and other hot heads
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Bradley only shouted at Beane
And that was far from the dugout
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
payton?
Payton was a hot head? I don’t remember single problem with him. My best memory of him was that hustle putout at 2B at Slegna.
Athletics fan and runner - April 9, 2009
his only recorded shouting match in Oakland
was going to Macha’s office and yelling about not getting enough playing time. the report is that Macha yelled right back at him, but they had no problems between them…Payton just blew off a bit of steam about riding the pine.
OaklandSi - April 9, 2009
Wait What? This doesn't makse sense...
Zonis - April 8, 2009
LOL
If they’re frustrated about that then we should think of suicide
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Well it is pretty difficult to do that
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Well the Angels didn't score a single run in the first 5 innings
(They did put up a three-spot, though.)
Nico - April 8, 2009
That's the trick
They didn’t score in five innings, but scored three runs in other innings
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
What. The. Hell?
Pterodactyl Cahill?
lenscrafters - April 8, 2009
I like it!
Emmett89 - April 8, 2009
Nick - April 8, 2009
Too hard to spell
CarGon's Jock - April 9, 2009
Yahoo pisses me off
Yeah like someone in the FO said “hey lets have Duke blow out his elbow so that we can have all our starters be under 26… man that would be cool.”
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
The '78 Brewers were apparently the last team to do that, and they won 93 games
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Yeah but their rotation didn't last three weeks.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
And now they have Rickie Weeks!
Baseball’s amazing.
Nico - April 8, 2009
And the A's have Jemile.
Destiny.
JediLeroy - April 9, 2009
i have no confidence in buck
yes he was the A’s best prospect a couple yrs ago. One of the main reasons they were willing to trade Ethier and later one of the reasons they traded bradley (if you believe beane). Buck plays eric byrnes type defense with the wreckless dives and has the lousy durability of bradley, but without the results. Doolittle and Cunningham areviable replacements if they do well in AAA
Asfan4ever723 - April 8, 2009
That's possible, but they'll need a Holliday replacement too.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
please explain
three runs — and not score a single run?
OaklandSi - April 8, 2009
3 walks.
VORP is too nerdy - April 8, 2009
oh, but of course
OaklandSi - April 8, 2009
That's what makes it so difficult
Nick - April 8, 2009
Actually, if there's any team that could score three runs
and still manage to get shutout it’s probably the A’s.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Shut your mouth!
Those days are behind us now. After last night…and tonight. Pweeze?
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
You have to remember that I spent the first 7 innings tonight
cursing the A’s and quitting baseball forever.
Nico - April 8, 2009
gotta be honest
I’m new to AN and I think it is interesting to read peoples vibes as the game goes along…very interesting
yawedout21 - April 8, 2009
LOL - God help us the A's ever lose 4 in a row
Nico - April 8, 2009
I would alert the police on all of you
suicide alerts…I mean frack 4 innings gets you guys going down down down cant imagine 4 games
yawedout21 - April 8, 2009
Thats what I said
Zonis - April 8, 2009
Sorry, 3 walks, fixed.
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
Too bad the Indians suck
or otherwise the A’s might be tied for the AL West lead.
Stupid Rangers!!!
chillicothe20 - April 8, 2009
it's early still
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
Don't be naive
The season’s practically over.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Not in the grand scheme of things
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
yep, If the playoffs were to start tomorrow
The Yankees would not be a part of it.
buddahead9 - April 8, 2009
So I saw it was 3-0 and bailed to watch L O S T...
…and as fate would have it, we decided to check back in and saw it was 4-3 in the 9th. Sweet, eh? Then Suzuki just crushed the ball and the rest is history. 3-1 would be kinda cool. It’ll give us something to holler about when we’re there (tickets still available) on opening night!
Pucking Insane - April 8, 2009
I was flipping back and forth
because you just can’t miss L O S T.
Nothing like watching the show then watching an Angels L O S T!
oaklandSMASH - April 8, 2009
I am going to watch Lost...
on demand tomorrow. Can’t miss any of the A’s season…too many new players to check out.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
YOU, have your priorities straight, madam.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
One issue I have
It’s fine to be frustrated, I know I was, when the A’s are losing and wasting opportunities. What gets annoying is the 20+ comments of how the game was over in the early innings. I was planning on writing this before we came back and won so don’t try to tell me to get off my soap box. If you feel the need to say that kind of stuff say it out loud to yourself because it just gets irritating for everyone else who’s trying to have some sort of fun with the game.
As for the game, it was awesome.
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
+1
As pathetic as a game thread comment gets, IMO.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Unless of course
If the A’s are up by 10 after 4 innings. Then you may feel free to dance naked and proclaim the A’s the collective King of the Universe.
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
+ 1000
The negativity is what will keep me (and my game-day cupcakes) off of the game threads as the season goes on….
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
No need to involve the cupcakes.
Nico - April 8, 2009
They're innocents in all this, ggo.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Its unfortunate that the only way some people can
express their frustration is by giving up. I can’t be that person.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
Plus...
I want cupcakes!
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
It's not an expression of frustration, nor giving up.
It’s a defense mechanism. For a person who is sensitive to the feeling of powerless, it’s a way of hedging against the pain of loss. If he says “game over” early enough, then if the team does lose he can console himself with feeling like he had some psychic control over it.
It doesn’t help these people to chastise them. They don’t want to be annoying losers, they’re just weak.
iglew - April 9, 2009
I hear you.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
Agreed.
I mean, negativity is fair when its deserved. But it’s the third game of the season.
Pucking Insane - April 8, 2009
Certain negativity is fine
I was guilty of being frustrated often this game, but there’s no need to keep saying that the game is over when comebacks like tonight’s are always possible.
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
If you really think about it,
there’s no way in which the comment “game over” is helpful or intelligent in any way. The game isn’t over, bigger comebacks have happened and do all the time, and everyone knows bad things have just happened.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Game over is always annoying.
Even if the other team puts up 15 runs in one inning…it irritates me.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
It's interesting
Cuz its almost like watching a game and everyone on here starts saying or in this case typing all their negative self talk…negative self talk never does anyone any good
yawedout21 - April 8, 2009
I can think of about 25 things off the top of my head
more annoying/negative/troll-like than “Game Over”. In fact, I just think of Bill Paxson in Aliens…
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Truthfully in years past
The game likely would have been over. But the A’s actually have several guys who can, you know, hit this year. Granted they only seem to be able to hit singles, but if you get 16 or 15 of them, you’re going to get some runs.
Tyler Bleszinski - April 9, 2009
rec'd
xbhaskarx - April 8, 2009
Yep
It’s just stupid to declare “Game Over” down a few runs early.
Flashfire - April 9, 2009
I don't read game threads
Because of this. It feels like 8th grade, only on ter internets.
Athletics fan and runner - April 9, 2009
Hmmm...
I find game threads very similar to actually being at the game. You are excited with group when good happens, you all sag when something bad happens. You hear different comments from the fans around you. There is always negative voice, “damn garen”, “not crosby”, “how could he take that pitch”, and so on. The emotions sway through the course of the game, and group emotions sway more. At least we don’t have the annoying fan of the other team a few seats over.
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
It'll get better...
…I assume. Because last season, it WAS over once the A’s gave up 3 runs.
rageon - April 9, 2009
Not to worry.
Winning solves everything. If the A’s continue along this vein, the negativity will gradually begin to decline. The best thing about tonight’s game is sitting back and imagining the good Rev chewing on his liver and spouting ineffectual rage for a change.
alox - April 9, 2009
amen
drink409 - April 9, 2009
i want to see that graphy thing that predicts the game's outcome meaningful play by meaningful play
where does one go for that?
AV - April 8, 2009
there. it's amazing.
http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?gameid=290408103t
Jjjsixsix - April 8, 2009
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
and thank you
AV - April 8, 2009
some tidbits if you don't want to click...
Elly +46.3%
Nomah +35.5%
Ryan +18.4%
Jason +10.2%
Ziggy +9.7%
-within 8%: holliday, kurt, bailey + | croz 0 | cust, springer, eveland -
-O-Cab -11.2%
T-Buck -14..0%
Rajai -17.9%
Chavvy -25.5%
Adenhart: +31.7%
Fuentes: -73.5%
Jjjsixsix - April 8, 2009
Looks like that Fuentes guy was the problem
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Funny, I rather liked him
Nico - April 8, 2009
Yeah I love him much more than KRod.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Francisco Rodriguez was more annoying to be sure
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
But he was more fun to beat.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
I don't know. I'm enjoying this quite a bit.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Ziggy should have gyrated spastically after the last out
Nico - April 8, 2009
Yes he was...
But when he got a save nobody was more annoying.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
He was harder to beat, too
And now I shall wait patiently
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
crap I flagged this post
my bad…
Anyways, I agree, however playing against him last year was no fun
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
oh c'mon...
we all know that mentions of k-rod = cgv….
Jjjsixsix - April 9, 2009
thank you
AV - April 8, 2009
BTW, Congrats to Andrew Bailey on his first major league win!
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
+1
The kid’s got a bright future
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
ok, time for bed -- work tomorrow
and ANOTHER GAME!!!
OaklandSi - April 8, 2009
That game was the best...
nothing more rewarding. My complaint? The game thread was so long that it locked up my computer and I couldn’t join in. Now that sucks.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
I couldn't touch the mojo
you don’t know what would have happened then…trust me.
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
good call
Future Ed - April 9, 2009
Only caught bits and pieces of the game
Luckily, I saw the best part, the Garciaparra at bat and the rest of the game.
— For someone who is constantly pegged as playing above his head, Sweeney sure seems awfully useful to have around.
— It’s nice to have someone like Garciaparra available in late-game situations like this where you really need a hit.
— I don’t know if Matthews lost the ball in the lights, but actually thought he made a smart decision letting the ball drop if he wasn’t sure he could get it. He needed to make a diving catch, or else the Angels were going to lose the game right there.
— The A’s caught a few breaks, such as the ball that richocheted off Ziggy’s shin to Chavez, but also took full advantage of them.
— This sort of game is what Beane had in mind when acquiring some hitters. Last year, the A’s wouldn’t have had a chance.
bear88 - April 8, 2009
Yes, Sweeney is handy indeed....
And Nomar is playing the part of Olmedo Saenz very well.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Sweeney can't play over his head
Nothing can be over Sweeney’s head where he plays CF.
Nico - April 8, 2009
He really needs to start hitting for extra bases.
He’s fun to watch though.
OldhamA - April 8, 2009
He may never do that. He is what he is....but that'll do for now.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Whereas Rajai Davis "is what he isn't"
At least tonight.
Nico - April 8, 2009
He certainly played against type tonight.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
I like Gardiaparra too...
butt he sure looks clumsy with the glove.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
{looks up Gardiaparra in Baseball history book,
finds him right after Garciaparra}
Nico - April 8, 2009
Sorry...typo Laurie...
You know me.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
I heard you were made Typo Laureate
Congratulations.
Nico - April 8, 2009
you couldn't help me in case of a bad accident...
i’m typo negative
AV - April 8, 2009
AV?
You are going to be Nico’s new best friend.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
how's that?
AV - April 8, 2009
Pun fun together.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
oh, okay
i thought i came off as a typing perfectionist, which i’m not.
AV - April 8, 2009
Noe but i AM.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Ahem...
Nico?
oblique - April 9, 2009
What kind of a crappy baseball history book
omits Ron Gardenhire?
iglew - April 9, 2009
Anyway seriously why are the game threads so dang
long this year?
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
We're popular now.
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
When the threads got long in the past...
New ones were opened promptly.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
The mods can't keep up....they're still in 2008 in their minds
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
It hasn't bene that may years since we had success.
How quickly they forget.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
No, two days in fact
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
I know I'm in the habit of checking threads every 3 innings
to see if they’re getting near 400. I’ll have to reset my mod-clock now to check at least every couple. (Unless the A’s lose two games in a row, of course.)
Nico - April 8, 2009
TY Nico.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Doing the best they can.
Nobody expected THIS!
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
We need to think big....really big
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Like cupcake big?
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Success.
This board is huge now.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
1st games of the season
then fans will realize that 160+ games is not as cool as a 16 game NFL season.
I recall my days of ESPN boars, people on the 1st week saying " We NEEED todays game! "
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
I like eating boars
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
ESPN boars
those complain a lot, wouldn’t eat em if I were you
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Not even marinated?
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Not even
with all the good Mexican sauces that exist out there
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Stupid ESPN boars......(mutters)
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
"ESPN bores" is redundant
Nico - April 8, 2009
with bacon?
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
Hola
I’m guess I’m gonna be a reverse of those fans, because once hockey season is over (un)fortunately for you guys I’ll spend more of my time here.
I read AN everyday to gain some of that baseball knowledge, and I don’t really post here because I’ve don’t got the time!
(nows the time where you “regulars” click my name to see what past stuff I’ve done here so you could judge me)
Nice meeting you guys, sort of!
idunno723 - April 8, 2009
don't need to click...
go flames go!
Jjjsixsix - April 9, 2009
go flames go HOME!
idunno723 - April 9, 2009
it's early in the season, road games, etc.....
once we get further into the season, things will calm down some….
but really, with a game like this, can you blame us???
(btw, it’s bad mojo to have a new thread in the middle of the inning, so sometimes the threads end up longer because the mods have to wait for the third out…)
gigglingone - April 8, 2009
800+ comments?
They used to switch at 300.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Its a learning curve I think.
I’m sure they’ll figure it out. Give it some time.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
You misoverestimate us
Nico - April 8, 2009
I am just pissy because I couldn't join in with this old computer...
and I tried anyway and it totally froze up my computer. I wanted to celebrate with you all …when I saw the first run come in.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
I was IMing with you in spirit
Nico - April 8, 2009
Remind me to high five you when I see you then.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Sorry
IM4Oakgal. New computers are really cheap right now though. Maybe its time.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
Yeah I want a laptop.
I am just worried about spending money because my job has been eliminated and I won’t have a paycheck after June. But the comp is a problem. Usually I don’t open any threads or fanposts that are long because I know that it freezes the comp.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
.When you're ready,
the HP site has some great deals and financing. Just saying.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
We have had Dell before but...
this comp has not bene the best. So maybe the HP would be a good idea.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
I love HP
and have been a return customer to them. I even bought my mom a HP. Netbooks are really cheap right now and all the rage if you don’t need a lot of storage space.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
Me too.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
I really want their netbook...
except Im unemployed and have no use for it. Otherwise its really important that I get one.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
The sign of a true fan
I am really strapped for cash, but man I gotta keep up with the game threads!
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
I would also be willing to help you if you want to try the linux route
Linux solve everything (well not really but I love it so very much). Best of all you don’t have to pay for office, antiviruses, or other software. Itll never get spyware or viruses and there is a really large community that will help you if you have any problems.
designatedforassignment - April 9, 2009
I do think I will be getting one...
I am hinting to my husband and he’ll probably get the girls to buy me one for Mother’s day. I am crafty like that.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Me too.
I put on my Donna reed dress, bake cookies, talk sweet, and I have those little simpletons eating out of the palm of my hand.
{cackles evilly}
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Works every time.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
I gotta wear the white pumps though.
Or I can’t pull it off.
(wait for it…)
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
TWSS!
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
(ty, dear)
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Now I feel unclean.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
sometimes the straightest path
between two points goes right through the mud puddle.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
So be it.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
I am still waiting for the pic
of you in the hotpants. I don’t know if I am ready for the white pumps pic yet.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
Well see how the season shapes up.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Dell=Bobby Crosby
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
Linux
You could try running linux. It is much kinder to older hardware than windows and is far easier than people make it out to be (plus its a nice parlor trick to tell people you run it because they think you know everything about anything with a plug). I would recommend Ubuntu which is what I have been running for three years since I took the plunge, but for you Xubuntu has a smaller foot print. If you download the cd you can try it out without changing anything on your computer.
The other thing you might want to try is other browsers like Opera or Chrome which both have slightly faster engines than firefox.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
des, you are so sweet to give me the advice.
The problem with that is that as old and awful running as this computer is…I am the user to match it. I have absolutely no idea how to use those programs, install them or if this computer has the memory left to load them.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
I would be willing to help you install linux
and teach you the ins and outs of your system if you wanted to go that way. Ive used it to revive some pretty fricking old computers in the past.
Chrome can be dowloaded by clicking the link on the google site. Its just like internet explorer or firefox and is used the same way, some of the guts are different and that might be helpful with your level of systems resources.
designatedforassignment - April 8, 2009
Let me get my husband to look at it...
He’s better with that stuff than i am .if we have any questions then maybe I could email you ?
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
yeah for sure
email is in the profile.
designatedforassignment - April 9, 2009
PS
TY for the offer of help. You are obviously a nice person.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
Using a better browser might be a good first step...
Opera, FireFox 3 or Safari 4 are all vastly better at handling the game threads than IE, or earlier versions of those browsers
RickeySteals - April 9, 2009
I am so surprised that other people
besides myself aren’t having any trouble. You all must be right… something is wrong with the browser I am using. you guys just click right through those 900+ threads?
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
I've had trouble.
It doesn’t crash me, but the page is so slow loading that it never gets finished with all the ads, and then C-X-Z won’t work, and I have to refresh to get the new comments. And since there’s so freakin’ many new comments, I’m basically 5-10 minutes behind all the time.
I assumed the problem was traffic on AN’s server, not the size of the thread per se.
Also, I was trying to run simultaneously with mlb audio, which I think is less lean than it was last year.
iglew - April 9, 2009
I thought that older comps would have trouble but...
I understood that newer ones weren’t because if others were having this trouble there’d be screaming. I usually don’t complain about the long threads but lately the threads have been super super long…and they are really making me grumpy.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
My PowerBook G4 is from 2004.
Does that count as “old”?
I figure if the game thread is packed, that’s good for AN but I don’t need to be there. Like I said in the “banned” discussion, being temporarily unable to post on AN isn’t the worst thing in the world.
iglew - April 9, 2009
Yeah I hear ya.
I don’t usually complain …tonight I got a little excited and had no one to share it with. My 58 year old love machine snooozed his way through the game…so I thought I’d come here for company. Sorry to folks for the bitching.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
netbook!
i got an eeepc for $300 (+$50 or something for extra RAM) and it works great.
although i’m torn on whether i can use this forever or if it’s just a stopgap measure. but it’s ultraportable. just… kinda really small.
Jjjsixsix - April 9, 2009
Did you order it from their online site?
And do you just call comcast to get a wireless connection?
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
if i recall correctly, i got it from amazon...
and it’s just a really small/light laptop. mine is 10" screen… basically i need it to write essays and surf the internet.
and it’s just the same internet connection as a normal computer, it’s just called a netbook because i don’t know why.
Jjjsixsix - April 9, 2009
TY for the info...
I will look into it. I am sick to death of this slow comp…It doesn’t bother my husband but it’s driving me nuts.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
baseballgirl sucks
There, I said it.
Nico - April 8, 2009
Well played, sir.
Your courage is only outdone by your boorishness. Or boarishness. Or goa…oh, that’s right.
Nevermind.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Goat talk
is the new no-no. So Shhhhhhhhhh…censorship r us.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
yup.
gotta mind your p’s and q’s, though I’ve never really been able to figure out why those two are the ones you gotta watch..unless it’s a phallic thing…
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Stands for pints and quarts.
It’s a bar expression.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
The explanation I've read is that it's typesetter talk
p’s and q’s look nearly identical, and when a typesetter was setting lead type backwards, and doing it fast (say, for a newspaper) it was very easy to get confused.
Nick - April 9, 2009
That was a special thread.
We didn’t want to switch that one.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
A lot of the threads have been long though the last few days.
I probably won’t try to acces the games threads until I get a new comp. I have a feeling that’s going to be necessary.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
It was the cupcake thread.
we daren’t switch it in midstream, mum.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
Cupcakes will forever be special
in more ways than one.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
I am sorry...
…but I had to use the gut call that if I had switched over in the ninth, people would have freaked out. You know there were more than 300 comments in that inning, and with all the comments, we still can’t just put a new thread in the inning.
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
Again...I couldn't win!
Do you know what would have happened if I touched the mojo in the middle of that thread!?!?!?
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
You did rightly.
All is well with the AN world.
lynnzgal - April 9, 2009
Yeah ...they would've invented blame of the game...
for AN…and you would have gotten the most votes.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
Haha...cute :-)
baseballgirl - April 9, 2009
IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT BBG
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
I need to share the following images since I was not here to do it during the game:
I love this team so much!! I don’t mind all the singles when we actually manage to string them together lol
SUCH a fun game to be at (and it could have very easily been a very NOT fun game to be at)
I LOVE RYAN SWEENEY OMGOMG
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
I love him too.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
If he keeps playing like this his fanclub will continue to grow lol
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
Hey I have been on his side all along...
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
oh I know you have :D I just mean other people will be jumping on haha
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
+unicorns
ElQuesoCapitan - April 8, 2009
I have this one too but I don’t like it as much
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
Brilliance
ElQuesoCapitan - April 8, 2009
LOL
Mark’s head is giant-sized and his body little. He looks like a little kid in that one.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
lol it’s like the spartacust one i did where his head is huge lol
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
He touched me you know.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
like, in the biblical sense?
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
I heard that Ellis has hair now. Is that true?
iglew - April 9, 2009
+swooneys
walkoff baltimore chop - April 8, 2009
I need a Sweeney shirt. I wish I had money lol
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
Me too
Don’t care about the Sweeney shirt, though.
Nico - April 8, 2009
I bought a Sweeney shirt for my girlfriend last season
And she dumped me while it was in the mail.
Learned my less.
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
My lesson as well
Helloooo 1st - April 8, 2009
You know what they say -
“lesson is moron.”
Nico - April 8, 2009
psh she obviously wasn’t worthy of the Sweeney shirt then.
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
Date AN girls.
They’ll all want you for the shirt. (teasing)
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
TY
Been there.
DCinWC - April 9, 2009
Anybody know what GameHD is?
I was browsing though my cable channels and the game was on GameHD. never seen or heard of the channel before. was a nice surprise
closetasfan - April 8, 2009
Braces?
Does Ryan have braces? Sorry if already addressed on another post. My daughter noticed it on the post-game interview on television.
theshopper - April 8, 2009
I think it's from the polio
Nico - April 8, 2009
A's interested in gaudin
but only offering a bullpen role, same with padres. rockies offering him sp role
Asfan4ever723 - April 8, 2009
Coors Field should do well for the Gaudin slider
Nico - April 8, 2009
What about his beard
Colorado and that beard, what a fit
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
Can ferrets even live at that altitude?
Nico - April 8, 2009
Ok, place your bets
What will happen first?
An A’s starter gets credited with a win
or
An A’s hitter hits a homerun
OkayJay81 - April 8, 2009
It’s gonna happen at the same time
idunno723 - April 8, 2009
Doubt Anderson dominates the Angels
I say HR, from Jason Kendall… o wait
ATarHeel - April 8, 2009
that should have been a reply to you:
HR which will contribute to the win :)
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
Now that's weird.
Who the hell is this team?
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
HR which will contribute to the win :)
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
why am i full of reply!fail tonight?
drmmerchk - April 8, 2009
buzz from being there live causing
hand tremors.
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
The team is so much more exciting to watch...
I love having some offense and some hope when the batters are at the plate. It makes a big difference. Hope is a beautiful feeling. Plus I really do like having some big names. i am not afraid to be thought of as shallow.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
Wouldn't it be nice if we could score some runs early on though?
Maybe pace ourselves? Or are we destined to have a roller coaster ride?
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
I'll take 'em when I can get 'em
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Absolutely.
I’ll take ’em.
lynnzgal - April 8, 2009
Last year we would have been delighted with any kind of win...
and these games against the Halos are always close. I was so tickled tonight…
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
just got back from the game
it was so incredibly frustrating the first 7 innings. But I refuse to ever leave a game early no matter how ugly it gets. And tonite I was rewarded. Incredibly, many Angel fans left after the 7th inning – I guess thinking the game was over – so there was a nice contingent of A’s fans on the right field line field level.
I have to say that I and a group of 7 A’s fans were not thrilled with Rajai as much as you bbgirl. He’s a good fielder, but offensively I think he belongs in AA. He pissed me off last night with those lame bunt attempts, and like you said he’s supposed to not hit into DPs and he’s supposed to run down balls AND catch them. I felt he read that ball wrong and was too relaxed at the beginning of his route only to realize late that he misread it. Sweeney makes that catch and usually Davis does. Suffice it to say I don’t understand why he’s on the team and would rather see someone else there (Deborfia?).
As for Buck, he looks truly lost and looks like he’s on the Adam Piatt career path. I wish he would improve, but he just appears overmatched.
Bailey looked great. Springer pretty good, and Ziegler just makes me feel as calm as a closer can. Is it too early to say Nomar is clutch? 3 runs with 2 outs in the 9th! Great win! We haven’t had many of these type of wins in a while.
oaktownmario - April 8, 2009
Cool. Are you going tomorrow?
WaddellCanseco - April 8, 2009
Yea, sec 131 row C
what about you?
oaktownmario - April 8, 2009
Ridiculously entertaining last 2 innings
Nothing but frustration for the first 7. Last year’s team had trained me to expect nothing of the offense. “Hopefully, they make it a game,” I think to myself. Then the hit parade started.
Still, I was satisfied after the 8th. “They got started a little late,” I says. “At least they finally got some runs across.”
Then the 9th inning happened. And my friends and I jumped out of our chairs with every crack of the bat. The ending was absolutely sublime. I’d rather not risk cardiac arrest during every game, but I had an insane amount of fun. Glad to share it with all y’all in the game thread.
Joey C. - April 8, 2009
There's a reason that the Giants didn't want him.
He can’t hit . He seems like a good defensive replacement for games when we are ahead though. I see why they have him as a backup.
IM4Oakgal - April 8, 2009
That's his only value really
The question is: Is that worth a roster spot?
I don’t think so.
oaktownmario - April 8, 2009
Defense is always undervalued.
I think with Cust as a fielder…it might be an ok idea to keep him. He’s a great pinch runner too…I predict Giambi will be able to sit down in crucial late innings…so Mr. Davis can do some old-fashioned stealing.
IM4Oakgal - April 9, 2009
The Giants thought Dave Roberts was more worth of a roster spot.
The Giants personel decisions are atrocious, though getting Davis from the Pirates for a washed up Matt Morris and his huge contract was amazing.
designatedforassignment - April 9, 2009
our winexp chart wasn't even the best today...
ici
Jjjsixsix - April 9, 2009
Wow, there's a spot down there
between 7 and 8 where it looks to dip into the negative probability…
Leopold Bloom - April 9, 2009
baseball is so crazy sometimes and i love it
drmmerchk - April 9, 2009
i looked like biggest dork tonight, i was listening to the game on my phone
At the gym and i was running and listening to it. I yelled real loud when we tied it and then when we won it, i went nuts and the guy who works down stairs was like is everything ok, i was like my team just came back and won thats all and he was like ok
buckfan6 - April 9, 2009
Awesome win
But I have a question:
Why are they wearing the home batting helmets on the road?
Athletics fan and runner - April 9, 2009
Now the Angles have a taste of
A’s offense, circa 2008. You were going to get all your scoring done in one inning….if it wasn’t enough to win the game, you might as well head to the showers early.
alox - April 9, 2009
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