Wow, I seriously had to switch gears. Thankfully, I didn't have to switch back.
Through the first seven innings, the A's were uninspiring, listless, dead. Five outs from a third consecutive defeat. Twelve frames without even a sniff of home plate. Mazzaro World a distant memory.
But from the ashes they arose to take us back to Giddy Town.
After the Twins had taken a 3-0 lead on the strength of a three-run shot by Joe Crede, the A's wrapped up their homestand in style with their second walk-off win of the season.
Jack Hannahan started Oakland on the comeback trail with a one-out triple in the eighth that eluded right-fielder Michael Cuddyer, and scored on a single by Orlando Cabrera. Then Adam Kennedy came through again. His two-run homer tied things up, silenced the doubters once more (well, sorta), and sent a certain writer scrambling for a rewrite.
Brad Ziegler pitched two scoreless innings to put the A's in position to win it in the ninth.
And win it they did. Jason Giambi worked a lead-off walk, and his pinch-running replacement, Chris Denorfia, moved up 90 feet when Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch. Daric Barton, who played a mean glove this afternoon, bunted the runners over, and Rajai Davis jumped on the first pitch for a game-winning single.
Mazzaro World, revisited.
For awhile it didn't look that way. Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn had mowed down Oaktown to the tune of three hits and three walks through seven. The A's shot themselves in the foot by hitting into three double plays.
Blackburn's counterpart, Trevor Cahill, wasn't too shabby either.
For starters, he did something that no A's pitcher had accomplished since May 22: pitch a 1-2-3 first inning. That's 19 straight games, for those of you keeping score at work. After that spotless first, he worked in and out of trouble the next two innings, inducing the first of two double plays in the third. In the fourth, trouble wore out its welcome. A single by Justin Morneau, a walk to Jason Kubel, followed by the Crede blast, and just like that it was 3-0.
That's how it stayed until the 8th, when the A's put me to work, and smiles on the faces of mANy.
0 recs | 184 comments
Rally headbang FTW.
mikev - June 11, 2009
And me leaving again.
walkoff baltimore chop - June 11, 2009
and the a's not making outs in the ninth
Future Ed - June 11, 2009
Oh yeah
Bang your head
Metal healthOakland A’s will drive you maddoctorK - June 11, 2009
OMG, we WON? I should just show up to threads, and then forget i'm in it again.
DyeLongJustice - June 11, 2009
So I got to "watch" the crappy part of the game
and then miss the end, sadness.
But hey the A’s win JOY!
I also liked seeing the higlight on gameday audio and hearing Ken Korachs voice instead of the opposing teams announcer.
micdog2001 - June 11, 2009
Whee!
If Rajai Davis can hit the GWRBI, I hope that proves that the game is NEVER over in the 4th inning.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
he's hitting .367 over the last 9 starts...
i want to be the first to nominate Rajai for leadoff man and O-Cab moved to nine hole.
A'sfaninNC - June 12, 2009
I was on a telephone conference call for the last half of the game
and when the A’s tied it up, I almost yelled into the phone….but when we won, and I started banging on my desk, I think others on the call were concerned….
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Concerned?
What kind of people are they?
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
not A's fans. :(
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Probably not the kind
of people who would take a picture with an elephant mascot either.
Sad.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
I'm uploading that picture tonight and posting it all over.
I still can’t believe Stomper ran away from you the first time…
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
I was actually sad.
He didn’t just run, he hid!
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
I WANT THIS PICTURE.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
I'm thinking about doing the Friday DLD with this picture as the only thing in it...
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
I WILL DIE.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
DO IT GIGS.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE.
WAIT, WHAT? SINCE WHEN?
WHY AM I TYPING LIKE THIS? IT’S ANNOYING.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
are you typing with your penis again?
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
Oh gawd.
That was a mental image I never needed to have.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
add it to the list of all the happiness I've brought you.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
That's an image
I didn’t even want, and I’ve seen it.
OK, we’re definitely changing the subject.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
you've typed with your penis?
….I kinda want that pic too.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
Did I mention
I would die?
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Awww, you know you want it
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
A little
But not as the focal point.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
This all assumes that I am not dead tired by the time I get home...
so there’s still a good chance that it won’t get posted today at all.
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Like that idea better.
Except the dead tired part. Still can’t believe we only had one beer each. No wonder we lost.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
I will strive to drink more next time I'm at the game.
Which I think is this weekend. :) :) :)
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Have one or four for me :)
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Done.
Although the picture isn’t the only thing in it…. :)
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Strange ones
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
you said no A's pitcher had 1-2-3 inning since May 19th
I seem to recall Mazzaro retiring like 9 in a row, or something, in his debut. Am I just tripping or what? Nice comeback win bitches!
Rajai Davis is doing his best to not be DFA’d I guess……Mazzaro 2nite!
mrod - June 12, 2009
first inning
67MARQUEZ - June 12, 2009
GAME OVER
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
In-deed.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Let the fun begin tomorrow across the bay!
Matchup tomorrow should be fun and maybe Rajai will get to continue his imporvement by beating up on his old team? When is Buck eligible to return?
jakebmill - June 11, 2009
Mazarro World will stomp on that buck toothed guy tomorrow.
Blicks - June 11, 2009
i believe the last Giants
game is when he will come back
robbo650 - June 11, 2009
June Gloom?
Not for Mr. Rajai Davis.
Don’t look now, but Davis has a .908 OPS in June. Yes, that’s only in 34 PA…but hey, we’ll take what we can get from a AAAA player…
pepwaves - June 11, 2009
as Rajai himself said
“it’s all about repitition.”
I’m glad we didn’t have to get bogged down on Suzuki’s failure to bunt…and it looks like Daric knows how.
OaklandSi - June 11, 2009
Mt. Rajai Davis!
jakebmill - June 11, 2009
I'd prefer not to
jpl - June 11, 2009
TWSS
Blicks - June 11, 2009
TWBTSS
GreenNGoldSooner - June 11, 2009
I see what you did there,
though it took a minute.
iglew - June 11, 2009
I'm still not getting it.
[feeling dumb]
pam5981 - June 12, 2009
I'd be a bad signmaker if I couldn't figure it out.
GNGS’s a Melville fan, apparently.
Leopold Bloom - June 12, 2009
The fact that this was only the team's 2nd walk-off win
is very telling and very disturbing to me for some reason.
I’m greedy, and I want more of those. (When we can’t have blowouts that is ;-)
PortlandPachyderm - June 11, 2009
What was the first walk-off this year?
Sad that I can’t remember and there’s only been one.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Buck vs Boston is what somebody said earlier.
mikev - June 11, 2009
Here
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Oh yeah. That was fun.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Didn't the A's comeback against the Angels in the begining of the season?
I guess it wasn’t a walkoff because they were on the road.
micdog2001 - June 11, 2009
can Rajai be Marco Scutaro, revisited?
at least for this game, he was
cityplANner - June 11, 2009
You know the only thing bad about 12:30 games?
Tonight is gonna fucking SUCK.
mikev - June 11, 2009
On the other hand
We have all day to feel good about this win.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Sure.
But the TV at the house is out, AT&T is supposed to come out today, and I have a new light to hang in the dining room.
mikev - June 11, 2009
OK, that does SUCK
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Too bad you don't have any more living room walls to paint.
Now that would have been exciting.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Listen here, lady.
I’ll paint what I please, when I please.
mikev - June 11, 2009
TWHS
walkoff baltimore chop - June 11, 2009
There's always the ceiling
eastcoasta'sfan - June 11, 2009
Already done.
mikev - June 11, 2009
maybe paint the floors then?
rktse - June 11, 2009
And what, you're out of booze?
Nick - June 11, 2009
no no no!
you get the warm feeling all day instead of sleeping it off.
AV - June 11, 2009
No, it means I'll actually get something done around the house
for a change.
iglew - June 11, 2009
It's a good day. Just got back from The Hangover (good film), the
A’s won and I’ve just put the deposit down for this.
OldhamA - June 11, 2009
wow, recession must be over
that’s the sweetest green shoot i’ve seen yet
eastcoasta'sfan - June 11, 2009
That thing looks beast.
Blicks - June 11, 2009
REALLY????
Your AN hotness rating (everyone has one in the background) just went way up.
baseballgirl - June 11, 2009
Hotness rating = User ID???
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Wait, is mine low or high?
mikev - June 11, 2009
Seriously, what's my fricking rating, damn it?
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
Boys,
you’re not supposed to ask. You’re supposed to assume it’s high, and walk with a swagger.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
eh, screw that.
anyone can act.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
I'll bet you have to walk that way
after the way you were typing upthread.
Nick - June 11, 2009
Dude, every time you ask it goes down.
(Kind of like a credit rating, come to think of it.)
iglew - June 11, 2009
But unlike your wives or girlfriends.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Harsh.
True, but harsh.
:cry:
mikev - June 11, 2009
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Damn limeys get all the GOOD compact cars :(
mikev - June 11, 2009
Alfa, eh,
I imagine you’ve had a tour of the repair shop and shook hands with all the blokes who you’ll soon know better than your own cousins….
….or, has Alfa Romeo changed??
One won lost won - June 11, 2009
mid-life crisis?
rktse - June 11, 2009
WE WON!!!!!!
Makes up for last night!!!!! I’m THRILLED, and didn’t expect it at all, after innings 1-7! Nice job by Ziggy nailing down the last 2 innings; he’s pitching like the 2008 version. Now, let’s keep it rolling into the Giants, Dodgers, Padres. I’ll be on AN tomorrow night as your host, then I will be at the next 8! :-D
baseballgirl - June 11, 2009
If you need me to pinch hit
Well, actually, I’ll be partying like crazy from Friday night through Sunday night, nevermind.
mikev - June 11, 2009
You are going to 8 straight A's games?
the first 2 up here in SF?
That is sveet
jakebmill - June 11, 2009
8 IN A ROW.
mega super baseball road trip of the century is gonna be epic.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Are you going, too?
iglew - June 11, 2009
Absolutely.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
I feel compelled to point out to Trainman
that Jack Hannahan started the key game-tying rallies Monday, and today, with hits. And I don’t want to hear about any blind squirrels.
Nico - June 11, 2009
But that's 2 out of.. um.. how many?
mikev - June 11, 2009
four
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
hannahan's only had 4 at bats?
mikev - June 11, 2009
in the last four games
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
well even a blind bird
gets a worm now and then
robbo650 - June 11, 2009
Isn't that?
A mole finds a worm now and then?
One won lost won - June 11, 2009
i thought it was a blind squirrel finding a nut ever now and then
A'sfaninNC - June 12, 2009
So he's due to suck from now on
Tomorrow? Already Game Over.
Nick - June 11, 2009
How many games do we have left this season?
They’re all GAME OVER.
Now we don’t have to watch anymore!
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
LOL Nico
You got me but I feel compelled to mention the 8,232 AB’s where he failed and the one particular AB in the last month where he GIDP’ed to end the game with the bases loaded.
No Blind Squirrels just broken clocks
Trainman - June 11, 2009
Who's
that guy who wrote something about the A’s getting their mojo back?
I like him.
I also like writing “mojo” because the “o’s” wrapped around the “j” look like an elephant’s eyes and trunk.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
What about the m though?
mikev - June 11, 2009
I ignore it.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
I like that, 67ARQUEZ
mikev - June 11, 2009
thanks ikev
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
It's like a new Comcast sports commercial
67 ARQUEZ
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
I actually like that.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
You mean "Co cast"
mikev - June 11, 2009
Indeed
Good catch, y an.
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
And also "co ercial"
walkoff baltimore chop - June 11, 2009
You have an unhealthy Stomper obsession.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Is that it?
I mean, I didn’t say Stomper, but yeah, that could be it.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
you missed him last night
trying to feed Stomper his empty bag of peanuts. Stomper wasn’t happy about that…
gigglingone - June 11, 2009
Stomper'll never forget that, either.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
He would have surely
received peanuts had he not scurried from me the first time.
The empty bag was payback.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
hard to believe the guy in the elephant costume was scared of
a maniacal 40 year-old Hispanic-esque male trying to stuff peanuts down the front of the costume.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
Since you put it that way...
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Stomper Obsession. By Calvin Klein.
World’s worst perfume.
Nick - June 11, 2009
or GEICO
OaklandSi - June 11, 2009
A Generated Thought:
Barton won us this game, by a combination of things on one play:
He robbed Kubel of a sure double with a lightning grab, and then run to the bag. Kubel was probably thinking about defense robbing people of their “deserved hits”, so he went after Hannahan’s sinking liner (“do or die” ) to reciprocate the “robbery”.
For him, it was ill-advised, and Hannahan was at third instead of first base.
As a result, no "pinching in " at second, and OCab’s grounder, which could have been a DP if 2nd & SS were closer to second, went for a hit and scored a run.
Whether Kennedy would have homered, that is speculative, but interesting to think about the “after-effects” of a good defensive play upon the other team.
One won lost won - June 11, 2009
Glad you pointed this out
I only had audio but the way the boys in the booth were breaking it down, Barton came up big today.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Oh man!
We won! I feel bad for leaving here now
Wiers103 - June 11, 2009
Did Crosby do anything today other than strike out, ground out or hit into DPs?
Every time during last night’s game when Crosby was up at bat, I told my wife that he would be an automatic out….the only uncertainty being whether he would strike out, ground out or hit into a double play. My record was flawless. Had Giambi been playing 1st instead of Crosby, the A’s might have had a chance. This team can no longer afford his performance or lack of it at the plate.
How did he do today….did he redeem himself or more of the same???
Vegas Ace - June 11, 2009
Check the box score and PBP?
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
Welcome his brother to the organization?
LoneStranger - June 11, 2009
changed a diaper?
A'sfaninNC - June 12, 2009
Crosby didn't even make an out!
One won lost won - June 11, 2009
Was there anyone there for him to make out with?
oh, make an out.
LoneStranger - June 11, 2009
I imagine his wife is still pretty tired
And if he tries for someone else, he needs to have his ass kicked.
doctorK - June 11, 2009
So you're saying he won't even be getting to first base?
MobiusKlein - June 11, 2009
In other words, Crosby must not have been in the lineup today.
Vegas Ace - June 11, 2009
Can't believe there's been no doomsday comments over this:
https://twitter.com/OaklandAs/status/2119444431
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
Maybe Blake can actually play
42nd round says to me, “Organizational filler”.
Also, ewwww, Sac State.
doctorK - June 11, 2009
Crap
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
LoneStranger - June 11, 2009
WE ARE ALL GOING TO PERISH.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 11, 2009
Oh
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
Well shit.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 11, 2009
who dat
rktse - June 11, 2009
Matt Perisho
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
OT: Yankees BoSux
Did anyone see Swisher get doubled off at second? How boneheaded a play was it on his part? Thnx
closetasfan - June 11, 2009
Dunno
I make it a point to not watch as many Yankees/Red Sox games as I can.
Flashfire - June 11, 2009
I've got a perfect record on that!
iglew - June 11, 2009
I'd be too conflicted about who to root more vehemently against!
Jackson23 - June 11, 2009
definitely Red Sox.
Yankees are yesterday.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
he learned that playing for the A's
Remember parent orgs., if you made bonehead plays on the base paths, you’ll have kids who make bonehead plays on the base paths.
A'sfaninNC - June 12, 2009
I wonder if Crosby still thinks he can turn it around?
He probably does….ew
ChadGod - June 11, 2009
there's not a single player who does not believe that
I bet rickey still thinks he can turn it around. Even Canseco. they all just need a chance
closetasfan - June 11, 2009
I would be willing to bet that Rickey's OBP today
would be better than four or five of our starting nine.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
I was following the game a bit at work
left work probably some time in the 7th, and heard one update on local radio with the score 3-0 in the top of the 8th.
So, I spent the rest of the ride home contemplating the 3-game losing streak, and wondering whether I’d feel like watching baseball while I worked out tonight.
Got home, said hi to kids and Mrs. Nick, made dinner, had dinner with the family, cleaned up, then said, “Okay, let’s see what ended up happening here…” and turned on the computer…
AND WE WON!! In your FACE, universe!
Nick - June 11, 2009
Awesome.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
Universe didn't like that.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 11, 2009
Tempting for the "universe"
to send a small (10-50mi diameter) meteor in our direction…
One won lost won - June 11, 2009
nice news to come home to. don't know about giddy though
ak_A - June 11, 2009
Well yeah.
67MARQUEZ - June 11, 2009
So who do folks in Coeur d'Alene root for? The Ms?
Nick - June 11, 2009
Moose.
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
Buck.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 11, 2009
We're in their "market area"...
I’m actually in Moscow, a bit south of Cd’A. There’s a pretty big chunk of the population in the Spokane/Cd’A/Moscow/Pullman/Lewiston/Clarkston area that came here from the west side of Washington, especially college kids, so it’s not totally out of the question for the M’s to claim this as their territory.
Elvez - June 11, 2009
I guess the alternative would be the Rockies?
Do people root for the Broncos or the Seahawks?
Nick - June 11, 2009
I would guess not seattle
folks on that side of the cascades don’t cotton much to city folk
Future Ed - June 11, 2009
Not that simple
There’s definitely a strong East-vs-West attitude in this state (which is partly political) but it doesn’t stop the folks on the other side of the mountains from rooting for the Seahawks and Mariners.
The Seattle teams aren’t just for the people in the city, and once you spread out into the general metro area there’s just so much crossover. Just as Spokane and Lewiston is full of transplants from the coast, the Puget Sound area is full of transplants from the inland. Here in southern Snohomish County, where I now live, I see lots of people with ties to the east via family, second residence or vacation home. Culturally, they feel closer to Moses Lake than to downtown.
You see that in the college rivalries, too. When I lived in Seattle, everyone around me (who cared) was for UW, but up here it’s more WSU. But then get up into Everett and it’s more UW again. I think the correlation may be with urban density, not proximity to Seattle per se.
But I digress. My point is that everyone in the state is for the Mariners. The Mariners (and Seahawks) transcend the east-west cultural split. I think Eastern Washingtonians would be pissed off if you suggested to them that Seattleites have a greater claim on the team.
iglew - June 11, 2009
Just watched the highlights.
I was so surprised when I saw that we won this game. I like unexpected victories.
And have I mentioned recently how much I love having Dale back at 1B? The defense, the splits, the diving into shallow pools… absence does make the heart grow fonder.
whiteshoes40 - June 11, 2009
Re: Dale at 1B
For those folks who’ve been unhappy with the team’s energy this year, Barton is a refreshing burst out there in the field.
Nick - June 11, 2009
Reverse Mojo
After i said Davis should be released he goes out and starts hitting. So now I say release Crosby he sucks. The guy will never hit. Lets see karma change that.
Arcman - June 11, 2009
Wait, you mean you hadn't said release Crosby before now?
I thought everyone had said that long ago.
iglew - June 11, 2009
Davis for MVP
its now or never guys!!!!!
Wreckonized - June 11, 2009
It's never.
Seriously.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
all this negative comments don't help
i am just supporting the players in the team i like,
if you want to be so negative about it, there are 29 other teams you can follow
kthxbye
Wreckonized - June 11, 2009
LOL.
pam5981 - June 11, 2009
YEAH PAM WTF WHY SO NEGATIVE
mikev - June 11, 2009
She's such a meany-head.
iglew - June 11, 2009
well well
I went back to sleep… based on last night (saw the debacle in person) and the first 7 today I had kind of given up and essentially come to the conclusion that this is a last-place team that will lose 90-100 games in 2009. I had been up all night and morning dealing with the Comcast Catastrophe (their cabling shit the bed and dozens of us have been cut off from web and gasp! phone service for days down here in West O) and was ready to just check back out anyway… just to show what a fairweather fan I am, now I am looking forward to see what kind of dastardliness Raj Davis (near .400 in June as the everyday CF? Huh? Jesus Christ if he makes that impossibly tough grab at the wall on last night’s Twinkie triple in the 9th we even win THAT game) is going to have in store for the team that let him go, and if we can get an early scratch or two vs. Tim “I will be carded at bars when I am 65 years old” Lincecum to support Vincent Van O (aka Vinstant Maestro) and get him out of the gate in tomorrow’s game in the established Mazzaro fashion, i.e. dominance. Just to show what a colossal fairweather schmuck I am, now I feel if we can break through on Timmy the Whip early tomorrow we will sweep the Giants, LOL
So 5 under and 6.5 back with a whole summer to go? To be honest (and this is no disrespect to the Rangers, who are a fabulously fun team to watch and whom I’d l-o-v-e to see win the West and play in October if it ain’t us, if only for Wash’s sake), until a summer happens in Arlington where their pitchers don’t give up 11+ runs a game I feel that we are really chasing the Orange County Red Menace as usual (what else is new?) and alas! it’s only 3.5 games back of them where we sit with so many games yet to play, many versus just these teams we are looking up at in the standings from a not-insurmountable-if-things-go-well distance..
Oh man, somebody please slap me upside the head, I am writing positive anticipations of the on-field performance of Rajai Davis and hopeful thoughts about winning the West right now and I haven’t even smoked any of this hash right here, what the heck is going on???
emperor nobody - June 11, 2009
What's going on is you're an A's fan, dyed in the wool, green & gold from head to toe.
The calendar says June 11 and hope springs eternal. And even if it doesn’t happen, I still love the feeling that it could. And maybe that’s as good as it gets right now. Maybe this is an aberration and the team fades badly down the stretch. Or maybe, just maybe, it gets better. I opt for the latter.
JJ Martin - June 11, 2009
I'm not worried that the team will fade badly
I’m more worried that they’ll fade well.
Nico - June 11, 2009
I think someone said it's better to burn out...
Leopold Bloom - June 11, 2009
the King is gone, but he's not forgotten?
emperor nobody - June 11, 2009
Hail to the King, baby!
Hail to the King!
oaklandSMASH - June 11, 2009
i'm pretty sure i am already faded
Future Ed - June 11, 2009
Now let's cut those Gnats down to size!
oaklandSMASH - June 11, 2009
Right man right time
thats how you never give up good job A’s now lets sweep those FUCKING giants!!
Tambo45 - June 12, 2009
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