SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting

Athletics Nation

Open Thread: Game 36 - A's at Rays

You know you're having a bad stretch when holding the opposition under ten runs can be viewed as a moral victory, but such is the state of our woebegone A's, who have been roughed up to the gnarly tune of 47 runs the last four days.  Not exactly music to the ears.

If you're wondering, the 13-22 start is not the worst in Oakland A's history; that honor belongs to the 1994 club that began 9-26.  That, of course, was the Year Without a World Series, as the strike wiped out the last two months of the season.  Too bad because there was a very real possibility that the American League West would have been "won" by a team with a sub-.500 record. At the close of play on August 11, the Texas Rangers- with a 52-62 mark- led the division, by a game over Oakland (51-63) and two over Seattle (49-63). Yikes.

Here in the present, the A's could only be so lucky to be stuck in a god-awful division (rather than a simply mediocre one) as they currently sit nine games behind Ron Washington's Rangers.

If there were points given for bad news, the AL West might be turned upside down.  Aside from the latest Chavy 411, Dan Giese's placement on the disabled list is the 55th time the A's have used the DL since 2007.

Will the person with the A's voodoo doll please show your face?

Tonight the good guys try to snap a four-game skid, with another crack at the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays.

And yes, they are still the good guys.

Josh Outman pitches for Oakland, opposite James Shields.

The lineups: 




 

0 recs  |  483 comments

Comments

Gymnastics?

Please?

don't know if this is good or bad news

but Geren said in the pregame show that he didn’t think Powell needed to be on the DL. Should Suzuki need to be taken out in these next few games, Geren thinks that Powell should be able to play through any pain, since he’s a catcher.

that's just

freaking dumb. playing with any player’s health just because he’s a catcher? Idiotic

they're all such manly, macho men with man parts

excuse me while I go vomit

pierced?
only if it really hurt, to prove how tough they were
Yes, and no not to prove anything?
you'll never be a real catcher if you don't revel in your pain
I was a centerfielder

and a second baseman

Craig?
No, Mike.
Not Biggio?
Sorry to disappoint.
Nonsense!

Geren knows Landon has no future in baseball. It’s his job to prove it.

It seems

it is the A’s job to prove that none of the players in their organization have a future in baseball. Or at least to make that happen.

You know, Rajai Davis must have some incriminating photos of a few people somewhere
Great.

So I guess Buck doesn’t get to hit against righties anymore either.

fixed

So I guess Buck doesn’t get hits against righties anymore either.

Hey he had the audacity to get two hits yesterday.

Bench his arse.

Wow, anyone else in SoCal feel that earthquake?
Hope it's nothing significant!
Did Beane fire Geren or something?

That’s a sign of the apocalypse, right?

Could have been the Ray's

squaring up in batting practice. They know they’re about to feast yet again.

This one?

linky
Looks pretty minor.

BTW

It was centered here.

I said it before

and I’ll say it again. Geren is a log, he just sits there and rots.

So...let's just get this over with.
Any chance of a rainout?

followed by a chasm opening beneath them?

okay, lets start this bbq
You mean roast?
You mean train wreck...?

Oh…I see what you did there.

ka-bobs
Make me some!

I had an earthquake a block away earlier. And I’m hungry.

hungry for victory?

Hungry for changing the date of AN Day so it’s not August 22?

You need to change YOUR plans. :-)

I told you the solution…use the weekend before. Make it awesome. Then you’re all set!

Erm.

It’s really simple to change it to the 15th against the Chisox.

But I understand if you hate me.

I will be in Chicago!!!!

I can’t plan it if I’m not there.

But the chisox will be HERE

Change your plans.

I'm visiting my cousin for her birthday.
Fly her out here.

She’ll probably love me.

She's having a party in WI with her four kids :-)

The 22nd works…you should use the weekend before!

Sept 5th then.
Maybe, but giveaway day
So?

AN Day trumps Giveaway day.

Dude.

It’s just AN day. You’ll be okay if you can’t go.

WTF Pamcakes

What’s with the hate?

Does that even warrant a question?
Would it make you feel better

If I do a pregame party at the studio at the end of the season?

Sure.

But that’s not AN day.

but it’s cool. whatever. Fuck it.

No hate.

But…it’s not that big of a deal is it? It shoudl be a date that is logical for most people…

"most"

heh.

Sure.

it's a conspiracy.

I’d blame Nico.

Tired act.
I don't blame anybody.

Pam says it’s no big deal if I can’t go, so it’s no big deal.

Cool.

Oh, stop.
I'm good.

You guys have fun.

Or, the date that I have persuaded BBG into choosing??

:)

Probably much more likely.

But hey, do your thing.

That's a great day!
Porque why?
Think candles.
ZigFan's a witch?
I dunno

Does she weigh the same as a duck?

Should I get my flamethrower?
I'll get my wizard hat
I'm Glinda...

the good witch.

Or is that Guh-linda?

Birfday.
YAY

I’ll put her name on the scoreboard.

That would be awesome!

Never had anyone do that for me before. swoon

Are you gonna be at the game?
It's an idea.

But then I’ll miss Disneyland.

Ok, fuck it

I’m not going to any more games.

Christ.

What?

I’m not opposed! Just sayin! Ok How about I go to Disney during the day and fly up and go the game at night? Will that work for you?

Should we wait and see what most of the people want to do?
How do you propose I do that?

If we want an AN tailgate, the 22nd works, and Blez is free that weekend. Otherwise we are looking to have to use the A’s terrace, or I won’t be there, which means I can’t plan much.

Dunno.

Not my call.

Your world, I’m just livin in it.

It clearly means a lot to you to be there...

…and I would love to have a better day for the AN tailgate.

Don't worry about it.

The 22nd works for the most people.

Sept 5th is also Labor Day weekend

We really try to keep AN Day just a regular weekend. I have REALLY been over this with a handful of dates. Isn’t there any way you will be in town for the weekend, and can do brunch or something?

yeah, totally

Lemme just tell my wife that we need to change plans for our 10th anniversary.

I wouldn’t want to put anybody else out.

I mean to do brunch before your plans.

I’m trying, I really am! I’ve been over like 6 dates!

Its all good

I’m sure you guys will have fun

Mom?

Is that you?

Your mom has a wife?
Mom!

It is you!

Okay, I laughed.
AKWARD.
so awkward, the other W ran away...
feeble attempt at negative game humor

in barebones townhouse one more night before driving to Idaho tomorrow…..whirlwind day of office last minute details then driving my butt off on personal errands….ACondition on and lying on carpet with mac.book.

you need to hurry up and leave.

My sign monkey’s hovering right outside the state line…

cancelled early start tomorrow...

one last errand to drop off comcast box.

okay, I managed, by the skin of my nose,

to escape both my MMA guy and attending this ballgame.

Tomorrow I will not be so lucky.

so yer goin to the game tomorrow?
Well, I've bought the tickets.

and that’s AFTER attending yesterday.

Wait!

What happened to tonight?

Brother cancelled.
Awww!

Well, you can see why.

yup.

well, he couldn’t come up with $15 for parking, either.

In play, no out

Yay!

Oh noes, STRICKOUTS
the silver bullet popped his top there
Apparently Holliday doesn't like that bat very much.
Or anybody in our dugout.
Neither do I.
okay mr. g, your big chance
what's our handicap for this game 9,10?
Don't fall below the mendoza line
Oh, are we watching the game?
I almost forgot about the game.

almost

THANKS A LOT, AN.

Who's playing?
Is what the A's are doing considered "playing"?
So I assume Giambi could hit the fastball at some point in his career?
And had a good eye for the strike zone too
So, did anyone hear Mindi's interview with Chavez?

What did he say?

Same BS as usual.

Doesn’t want surgery, wants to rehab no matter how long it takes, MRI was way worse than his symptoms made people think.

Okay, thanks!
Yeah

I read an update on the A’s website.

He should just retire and be done with it. It’s obvious his body is not cooperating

It almost makes you wish he'd hurt himself for life on the field.

Y’know if you were a bitter fan sick of three years of ineptitude from the franchise and a what seems like a lifetime of DL time for Chavez.

Thankfully we have none of those people here.

I dunno, I can understand what he's doing.

I’m about to turn 30 and I’m not gonna quit playing sports until my body gives out either.

I know the guy wants to play

and he’s trying everything but it’s time to move on. I put the blame on the medical staff for not making him have those other surgeries years ago instead of this rehab shit every year.

He may have gotten the last few years healthy.

He was supposed to have surgery the year Bill King died

Remember King was having a “routine procedure” on his hip?

Yeah, that would freak me the hell out too.

Stirrups!
yes, Outman graces us with his stirrups

and good pitching

Well stirrups at least.
I have no complaint with his pitching so far
He's living up to his name

keep it up Outman!

KK said Gio sent back with message

THROW STRIKES.

Should apply to Gallagher too
Yeah

I think Gallagher was also told this and to see a shrink as well while he’s down there

Did Gio tell them to fuck off by any chance?
messing with his head

  2nd time up and plays 1 game and get the blame. He must have dated Geren’s daughter and dumped her.

He did, actually,

with his “What Bob wants, Bob gets” comment at the end of spring training.

Please explain

  Why Cabrera did not steal 2nd base? Was Geren sleeping. The shift was on for both Cust and Giambi so it was the perfect time to hit and run. With Geren we got nothing.

You have to ask?
sorry

  we are talking Geren the lump on the log

Was that a 1-2-3 inning? That was so beautiful. Haven’t seen one in a long time

in our favor, that is.
How come only three guys hit during the 1st inning for the Rays?
dont want the fans to leave to early

  Want to give the Tampa fans a little suspense.

Part of the mercy rule package I think
Argh

and we return the favor…

Dear Bobby,

That was a sub-90s four seam fastball right down the center of the plate.
Just thought you’d know.

I am shocked to see this team is hitting a whopping .245 on the road

I thought it was more like .045

This team needs a massive course of steroids. Illegal or not, that’s the only way the raise their BA’s

Is that better or worse than at home

I get the feeling it’s a push.

Home is an incredible .233
So whopping > incredible

that’s awesome!

Yes

Just this time

Bring back Macha's "inspirational" training from those A's commercials years back

A pack of snarling dogs to get you to run out that grounder.

The a's might be in trouble without their

backup catcher in there. He was like instant rally killer yesterday.

The Rays backup catcher, that is.
So....is there a score?

I’d be pretty happy if there wasn’t.

I can't believe they made that play without making any errors.

I would have expected at least 2.

We got Jason Bartlett out?

…..WE GOT JASON BARTLETT OUT!!!

I even cleared my cookies

J. Bartlett grounded out to third

bust out the fireworks gif

let’s take our victories where we can

hey, our pitcher hasn't allowed any walks. that's good.
Looking
  1. on the season
LOL

how does 1419 on the season turn into 1. on the season

THERE GOES THE NO HITTER

LOL!

Yeah, okay.

That's the least of his worries

when the shutout goes then this team is in trouble. 1 run or 13

That's in danger now, actually.

Shush.

Outman's pitching like he didn't get the memo.
What memo.
You know...

…the ‘we don’t care anymore’ one. You know.

Oh that one.

I thought you were talking about the…“Get your shit together” memo…

Haha, that one too!

But he DID get that memo!

Did Vince just say chicanery?
Channeling his inner Marilyn Manson?
I don't think I've ever heard that in relation to a baseball game before.
That's how I roll.
Good vocab, Vince.
That was a Grade A effort from Outman.

Two K’s to get out of a bad jam.

damn, i watch A's game for all the hits, runs, errors and hbp's

other than a few hits tonight so far….

I wonder if Outman thinks he is going to get any run support

Or if he thinks he’s plain fucked

Outman is our stopper!

It’s funny/sad because it’s true.

They should let him hit

He could do quite a good job in comparison to his buddies who hit for a living

TODAY IS THE DAY

we turn it ALL around!

So now we're doing the hokey pokey?
well,

it is what it’s all about.

LOL!

Flashbacks to Catholic school.

Flashbacks to roller skating

parties.

I think it's the socks.

Has any A’s player been sucky while wearing stirrups?

Not in my book.
Outman did well...I feel bad for him.
you mean because he has no support at all?
Yes. That too.
The stirrups don't offer that?
They keep him tied up tight, yes.
don't cry for me tropicana, the truth is I never .....
They're getting an outside stadium too right?

I’m led to believe it rains a lot in Florida…

It does. In the summer.

I’m not sure where they are with the stadium right not, but they’re insane. No way outside baseball in the summer works here.

No worse than the Twins. I assume they don't expect to play at home for the

first two months of the season.

Our good pitchers are doomed to have a nonexistant run support.
UUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

YES, I know this one is actually a good pitcher.

It really does not matter how well Outman pitches

I hope he gives up zero runs in like 7 innings.

And whoever comes in from the pen, same goes for them.

Like BBG says though, Shields is a good pitcher so it’s almost automatic that he shut us down

Time to go home.

It’s only about a 10-minute drive. We’d better not be down 6-0 by the time I’m back online.

I'm thinking the same thing...
I'm thinking its time to marinate the flank steak.
mmmmm, flank steak

/drools

I likes flank steak...
I'm making steak fajita quesadillas.
That sounds amazing.
The boy loves them.

I ate them a lot when I was pregnant with him, I think that must be why.

My ex- ate strawberries.

The boy can’t get enough of them.

The other thing,

peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Those I love.

But I don’t think Mom ate them during her pregnancy.

I'm thinking

Well, I better not say it

Yay! Still 0-0
Scary!
It's just a piercing.

Gosh.

I refuse to comment about that.
Ouch.

Tough crowd

Strick Three.

Good job, Outman.

We've not seen pitching like this for days. Well, not from our guys at least.
Be nice to see some hitting for our guys instead of them
That would involve them being good at baseball.
Agreed

Outman is so screwed

Come on hitters.

LOL.

Oh, wait, you’re serious?

Sure why not.
Have you seen our offence?

It’s pathetic.

UNLESS IT'S KANSAS CITY.
Outman...you look GREAT.
Way to make Shields really work...
He's throwing strikes

They have no choice but to swing unless they want to K looking

Yeah he's pitching well.

The issue we have is that it’s tough to distinguish between good and bad pitchers with this offence. It’s not really a good gauge, they make everyone look good.

So, no base runners since the first?

Hrm.

Come on guys, this guy is right handed.
Bobby's going deep tonight
Do the wives and girlfriends travel with the team?
Chavez clarifies situation....

link

“I guess it kind of made it sound like I’m one step from shutting it down,” Chavez said of a San Francisco Chronicle story about the status of his balky back. “I’m not.”
“I just want to make sure everyone’s clear: I’m not getting surgery. I’m rehabbing. I hope to be back when I’m eligible, and if I hurt my back again after I come back, I’m still not getting surgery. I’ll rehab it again.”
Translation:

I’m not retiring until my contract is up because I don’t want to give away 26 million dollars.

Translated as:

There’s no fucking way I’m leaving $23m on the table.

BEAT YOU.
Yeah but I included a swear word. It adds colour.
-1

Color does not have a “u” in it.

:D

It can.
Favourite, colour

harbour

Maybe it should.

Our two best hitters have three "u"s between them.

Excellent observation.
We need name changes to

Giumbi
Hulliday
Swunney
Cubrera
Cruuuuuuuuuuusby (He needs 11 U’s to be any good)

Not helping Buck, though.
Seriously.

He needs to shave his head.

Agreed!
What is this blasphemy?!
Outman

what do we think…is he for real? he and braden have pretty much been the bright spots of the rotation so far, but both appear to be getting somewhat lucky. he’s showing nice K potential, though.

Depends what you mean by 'for real'.

I think he’s potentially a starting pitcher in this league. He’s not a front end starter though.

I like his swagger after striking out batters with RISP.
You know things are bad

when we’re happy with no score.

It's funny cuz it's true.
The A's used to play low-scoring games with good pitching and defense, and timely hitting.

That seems like a long time ago.

Woo! Outman is our ace!
Braden is our ace.

Not that that’s a much better statement to be making.

Cunningham lost at the plate in that at bat
Cabrera seems to be hitting the ball slightly better.
That's as close as we have come to scoring
So when exactly did our entire team stop giving a damn?
The A's should change their name...

to the AAAA’s

not sure there are any MLBers on this squad

Suzuki?

And, uh….

Suzuki?

1 hit through 6

good grief

Don't knock it - still tied

And the Ray’s are like ‘Detroit scored how many, and we can’t get one today!’

Outman's been SO great.

He couldn’t have been matched up against anyone but Shields?

Shields is not the problem.
Actually, he's a first-rate pitcher

If the offense had been doing a nice job all year, I could easily accept tonight as a “tip your hat” day (and scratch out a run to win anyway!).

Due Up

Cust, Holliday, Giambi

feart of the odor!
67 pitches through 6 innings for Shields!

As this rate, he can go for a CG

We need to fix that!
YEAH WE DO!
We need to make it look like

5.1 IP 6H 4ER

CG 0-1 loss

works for me.

ABSOLUTELY.
And you might be about to see that.
Wow, that was terrible, G.
Giambi's under mendoza

Wasn’t he supposed to provide a marketing boost … uh hitting boost to the A’s?

Now personally, I'd let Outman start the 7th

and see how it goes, with Wuertz ready. I imagine we’ll see Wuertz to start the 7th, but I think Outman warrants a chance to go at least batter to batter, if not just take the inning. He’s at 99 pitches.

Personally

I’d rather give him 6 shutout innings to build on. Letting him start this inning reeks of desperation, for a team not in the playoff hunt, anyway.

I agree...

but no go.

Can we just cut Giambi?
*cough*Jeter makes that play. *cough*
The runner at 3rd best not score

Because ………………………………………………………………..

that line looks like the oil leaking out of giambi
or the breadcrumb trail bocro uses to find his way to home(plate)
We have no offense?
aka the dutch boy at the ahhhh levee on zyder zee?
we only have offense on wednesdays every other month
That swing by Aybar shows you what happens

when a player is managed by a great manager.

Its called strategy.

S-T-R-A-T-E-G-Y, Geren, Get it?

could be that the A's manager doesn't have "PLAYERS" to manage
If he did have players to manage

they soon got sick of his managing

Well...you think Willy Aybar is a great player?

Everything about his swing SHOWED he was dedicated to hitting the ball to the right side. A terrific at bat by a very average player.

I'm not defending Geren...but c'mon, these are MLBers...

they should know how the game is played by now

It’s ultimately the players that play the game

Oh he has players

however uninspired and unmotivated they may be they are all performing well below their career numbers. Geren is not a leader. Geren Sucks!

Need a K and a grounder.

KEEP THIS SHUTOUT ALIVE

geren called nico
I saw who it is and didn't answer

Talk to the hand, moron.

We're still tied!
there is still hope
How about a bunt single by Kennedy

goes to second on SB, on to third on a throwing error and score on a WP

I just posted ticket info for the A's SoCal trip...

…can someone recommend :-D

(cries)
don't cry.

there there

Thank you, baby.

I really want to go.

Why can't you?
No juice.

Because I’m paying off a mortgage for my family on a house THAT DOESN"T EXIST!

See, Mikey. Things could be worse.

:(

lynnz we’ll miss you!

Take LOTS of great pics for me,

Please?

We're finding a way to get you here!
I can't.

Its not just the money (sigh), John will be gone then. No way I can leave.

But ty!

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Bring Ian!
Oops...I just realized my mistake.
Not far off though babe.
well, I'm sure the girls wantcha to, too
Here here
Here here, is where I'll remain.
¡Sí, sí!
That's nice, ty!
done and done.

btw – Friday June 20 is not an actual date ;)

Ok, I take back the snark, seeing as how you already fixed it ;)
Due Up

Kennedy, Sweeney, Crosby

The liver of the lineup.

Or the rectum.

omg

i just got here and i just looked up Outmans start….where did THAT come from? at this rate, he’s going to be our lone allstar….

That is not going to happen

Kurt so far

I used to think so, till I looked at the competition

AL catchers doing well this year. Martinez and Mauer are awesome. Napoli also very good numbers. Even Posada is hitting slightly better than Suzuki last time I looked.

Either Outman pitched a good game today,

or the Rays are out of gas afters yesterday’s rout

He pitched well last time too.
yeah, that's right
It's interesting but the one player who looks like he knows

how to “get it done” and be aggressive at the right times is Adam Kennedy, former Angel. Loved his tag up to go to second the other day.

And he does what slegnA hitters do

got a single

Jack Cust takes offence.

He can small ball it with the best of them!

So if the A's win tonight, what does that do to

my planned attendance tomorrow?

plan for a loss
Makes you actually WANT to go?
I was tyalking about from a susperstitious pov, but...true.
Ooooh! A successful sac bunt!

How… strange.

I don't like bunting there, but at least he executed.
take your small victories when you can get them!
Bunting with Crosby coming up

Accidently get a hit please

And stop looking at pitches in the inner half

You cannot hit the outer one’s

Swing the bat

Holy crap, we bunted.
time for cunningham to be a hero
he looks overmatched.
That's worriesome considering he's almost ready for the bigs.
Quit looking at hittable pitches

No wonder they have low batting averages

What would Buck do?
hopefully no worse than that.
batters who want to heros

number, practically zero

hey...that's like poetic and shit, man...groovy.
that was terrible
Which inning does TB get the walk off in?
nine.
8.

Facing our offence shouldn’t really count as an official inning.

Honestly, this is why I'm so comfortable ragging on Geren

You have Sweeney up, and you take the bat out of his hands to set things up for Crosby and Cunningham? Seriously? With a righty on the mound, no less. No feel for the game.

That was his 234,135th stupid decision of the year
You've been keeping track!
That includes every day he has woken up in the last 3 years as well
Cunningham looks completely overmatched...

in his 2nd cup of coffee

Urgh. I can haz dp?
and Mr RBI coming up

Need DP or 2 K’s

I sure hope so.
I'm looking at a SB here.
here we go

Not thrilled about this, but I’m not totally opposed to seeing how Bailey deals with some adversity here.

Bearing in mind I want to win this game, I am.
Strikeout now makes SportsCenter
Great story, there.

Hot rookie pitcher, 0-0 game, against top RBI guy, gets the K.

I'm sure Youkilis has a hangnail or something.
Jeter just hit a bases clearing double, crisis at SC headquarters averted.
atta boy B
1 more please
Falling behind 2-0 is not good

no matter how good your stuff is

how bout that....2 and 2 heh
That was really terrible Glen.

PAY ATTENTION. It’s only like, your JOB.

It was hilarious though
Oh my. That was funny and the foul ball was scary.
caused me a deja pre vu
what the heck, Glen?
Kuiper facepalm
Kuiper has an Emmy, right?
That was nearly the game
Come on, hang in there.
BTW, the Trop is LOUD.

And most of it’s not the fans.

Is most of it YOU?
Most of its pumped in music and prompts...

and the cowbells, I suppose…

I hope they don't have the a/c blowing like in Minny
they do.
it's not like the Met, though.

The Met’s like vacuum sealed, so I think the AC probably affects the ball considerably more. They’re controlling the flow of things more significantly in MSP, I’m sure.

Great

Now ffffing Bartlett

Here we go Strikeout

plz

FU Bartlett!
whoa
That was intense like a playoff game.

Hey it’s all we have.

we have to settle for those situations for thrills this year
It really was intense.

Sad really.

K...please.
your wish is his command.
Seriously, spooky.
ANDREW. BAILEY.
WOW...YAY!!!!

OMGosh!!!!! C’MON OFFENSE!!!!!!

strike three swinging

sweet

Okay, that was freakin hawt.
The name is Bailey, Andrew Bailey
Dodged a bullet - nice job

Just a note: The big mistake, IMO, in that inning was not pitching Crawford away. Single to left = 1st and 2nd, single to right = 1st and 3rd. In that situation, you pitch him away and try to overpower him.

Bailey looks like a potential star in the game.

Hope we don’t f’n trade him.

I just got home

Is there a typo on my TV? Surely we must be down 10-0.

try expanding the screen view to be sure
Due Up

O’Cab, Suzuki, Cust

"might have hit him if he hadn't bunt"

Hm.

Can we just get this run in...PLEASE?!!?!?
Maybe it just me but I don't like that Sukuki bunt there
Not just you...he's their hottest hitter!
and the guy is super wild!
Suzuki is still swining at pitches out of the strike zone
Just tunin' in....

Are those two goose-eggs I see before my eyes?

Am I watching the right game?

I'm still not sure that Zooks should have bunted

But we have two on…we HAVE to score here.

True Outcome for Cust
I have ZERO affinity for Matt Holliday

I really can barely cheer for him

You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Athletics Nation to post a comment.