It's funny until someone gets bronzed alive with the winning run on in the 9th.
Well, that was another classic te 
e. If baseball were foreplay, these A's would be running (streaking?) away with the West.
The Athletics put the first 2 aboard in the ninth but the rally died there, with Joakim Soria (in just his 15th inning of work tonight) inducing Nomar Garciaparra to bloop out to LF to end it after freezing Jack Cust on a (what else) 3-2 pitch for the 2nd out. The A's failed to take advantage of a Royals bullpen which had more trouble throwing strikes than Earl Anthony with his eyes poked out.
Wow, I've sucked for how many years in a row now?
This game kind of boiled down to the question of the day, which might've been "Why did Bob Geren remove Edgar Gonzalez after 5 innings and merely 69 pitches?" Before you could say WTF BOB, Jay Marshall and Jeff Gray had put Oakland in a 4-1 hole from which they would never emerge, with new A's nemesis Alberto Callaspo doing the biggest damage with a 2-run single. Late RBIs from Adam Kennedy (single) and Mark Ellis (fielder's choice) drew the A's closer but did not provide the needed cigar.
Not much else to say about it all, other than good game and get 'em tomorrow, which begins a fleeting 13 hours hence as we fire up another $2 Wednesday.
Thanks to everyone for making my AN debut a total blast, I really really really had an amazing time =)
0 recs | 46 comments
You had an amazing time
And did an amazing job.
Trainman - September 1, 2009
Lol!
I’ve sucked for how many years in a row now?
lynnzgal - September 1, 2009
Where's Mikev when you need him!
OldhamA - September 1, 2009
Hi.
mikev - September 1, 2009
TWMvWSS
JediLeroy - September 1, 2009
A few comments
Okay…first…there were fewer people here tonight than last night. Second, the announced attendance last night was over 10,300. Talked with one of the folks at the gate today…the actual real attendance on Monday night was around 4,000. He gave an explanation that 10,300 tickets were sold, but I’m not buying it…the A’s have only around 7500 season tickets, which means that as many as 2800 single game tickets above and beyond the season tickets were sold to Monday’s game. It makes no sense.
Second, Geren managed a really, really bad game. Even if you want to pull Edgar after five innings, you DO NOT bring in Jay Marshall in a 1-1 game, not with the way he’s been pitching. You go directly to Jeff Gray. Also, in the 9th, with 14 consecutive outs as a pinch hitter, you don’t bring in Nomar Garciaparra. You bring in Landon Powell.
Third
-the way the Royals were pitching, it is ridiculous that the Oakland A’s lost that game.Fourth, on the positive side
-the weather was really wonderful, mostly shirtsleeve til the late innings, and the prosciutto-eggplant sandwich from Genova Deli in Oakland was utterly superb.richwol1 - September 1, 2009
Would have been nice to see Powell come off the bench
in that situation. It’s like Geren feels obligated to Nomar.
Trainman - September 1, 2009
Yeah, well. He's got his favorites and players he doesn't like or want around
Just ask Buck and Gallagher.
Flashfire - September 2, 2009
That sandwich seriously does rule.
Pucking Insane - September 1, 2009
it’s the genoan article
AV - September 2, 2009
re: marshall
how long do we keep waiting to see if he’s ready? he’s 26, he’s been bouncing between oakland and sacramento for a little while… i want to see him pitch well so we can have an even cooler looking team, but i don’t know if he has it or not…
jlanning17 - September 2, 2009
On your comments:
Using the formula of approximately.4 people in the stands for every one announced as being there (thanks to your ticket taker for the real scoop on actual attendance) then we can deduce that there were 135 fewer folks in the stands last night than there were on Monday night. Real numbers would make that 3865 in the stands last night,4000 on Monday night.
And my Pepper turkey, swiss and free avocado (thanks, Tony!) from Genova was amazing. Something special about Tony made sandwiches.
We really wanted the A’s to tie it up, the 10th inning “defense” would’ve been might odd to see. I think that we had slotted Nomar at first (should’ve been Powell hitting and going in), Barton to third, Kennedy to right, Sweeney to left…
Dr Pez - September 2, 2009
I was figuring Cust to RF, Sweeney to LF, Bailey inserted into the 5-spot,
possibly to be hit for with Powell if the game went into the 11th.
Nico - September 2, 2009
Damn.
That’s so much simpler.
I really liked the mad scientist approach that we’d concocted though.
Dr Pez - September 2, 2009
Genova makes some seriously delicious food.
travdog6 - September 2, 2009
How many HRs did Chris Carter hit tonight?
6? 14? schfifty five?
Aufheben - September 1, 2009
I just checked
you got my curiosity up.
0-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Looking forward to seeing him around this time next year with any luck. He’s going to be a good one.
Trainman - September 1, 2009
Why Pinch Hit for Patterson?
Yes, Garciaparra is probably a better hitter due to experience, but don’t the A’s want to see what Patterson can do?
If you’re not going to see what Patterson can do with the bat, why have him on the roster. Do we give Patterson a 30 day audition for 2010 or are the A’s just writing him off?
If you have to pinch hit for Patterson, let’s see Landon Powell.
2009 is over. Play for 2010.
Howzer - September 1, 2009
Patterson's up for pinch running duties. He's proven to be rubbish with the bat.
AN would have crucified Geren if he’d let Patterson hit in that situation.
OldhamA - September 1, 2009
I don't think he's had the chance to prove anything.
travdog6 - September 1, 2009
I didn't see the game but I'd have preferred to see Patterson hit there
We already know what Nomar can do.
Flashfire - September 2, 2009
I know Suzuki is the number 3 hitter,
but I think you gotta bunt in that situation. And as much as I love Jack Cust, I don’t get how you take that last pitch.
travdog6 - September 1, 2009
The reason you don't bunt is...
Cust was the next hitter. Of course if you were to bunt and pinch hit for Cust….
McBain - September 1, 2009
Meh, I dunno.
Jack’s perfectly capable of hitting a sacrifice fly in a 2nd and 3rd situation, and has been good in runner on third, less than 2 our situations this year.
travdog6 - September 1, 2009
Some minor league notes:
James Simmons returned to action, and pitched today (poorly). 1.2 innings and 5 earned. Tommy Everidge hit a couple of homers.
Capra had a decent outing to the tune of 6 IP and 6 K’s, but also 2 HR’s.
Max Stassi had a couple of hits today, and it appears he’s doing just fine in his first season.
And finally, Chris Carter hit three homeruns fewer than he did last night. I think it’s official, he sucks.
travdog6 - September 1, 2009
Two homeruns means nothing to me.
Aufheben - September 1, 2009
Buan is asking about Chris Carter amongst others
and asked David Forst, “Is it in the realms of possibility that Carter comes up for the last few weeks”
He said it is and that he had nothing left to prove in AA and said something like, we will see what he does here in the next few weeks and that you never know where that will lead him.
Trainman - September 1, 2009
I think its fine if Carter comes up after the AAA playoffs in a couple weeks,
as long as he understands he’s starting out next year in the minors. It doesn’t cost the A’s an option or a year of control and he has to be added to the 40 man roster over the offseason anyway.
Aufheben - September 1, 2009
Reno is like hitting in Denver
In Oakland those home runs could be either doubles or deep fly ball outs. 3 Home Runs in Sacto would impress me more.
Right now, Carter would probably strikeout too often against major league pitching and lose his confidence.
Howzer - September 1, 2009
Agreed
Hope they take their time with him.
I am sure he will show them when he is ready.
Trainman - September 1, 2009
This is true, but if you limit his playing time -
make sure he’s not around for more than a couple of weeks – I don’t think it matters. Lots of players have a couple lines worth of 30 awful PAs at the top of their stat sheets. I don’t think this is necessarily messing with a player’s development.
He definitely needs to start off in Sacto next year, but he’s an upper minors top tier prospect, and a brief call up gives him a smell of success and the chance to learn a little about big league pitching.
Aufheben - September 1, 2009
I would rather see Carter ...
than Barton, Eveland, Nomar, etc.
Rewarding guys for great seasons is something that should absolutely be done. Rewarding guys for doing crap, is crap.
Colorado Fan - September 2, 2009
+1
On the rewarding crap part.
Trainman - September 2, 2009
It's like two-for-one lime green leisure suits.
Folks – two of $h!t…is $h!t !!! – Dennis Miller
Derwood13 - September 2, 2009
the total lack of bench players limits Geren's options
When Hariston pulled up sore at first, there wasn’t much for Geren to pick from.
Having some other batters to use might be nice. Perhaps SOMEBODY up there could help?
Buck, or anybody. Why not bring up some position players?
MobiusKlein - September 2, 2009
I brought some friends from the UK with me tonight
It did give me the opportunity to explain some of the finer points of how not to win a game
bobnothing - September 1, 2009
Also, it looked like Jack Cust got Royally screwed in his last AB
bobnothing - September 1, 2009
Nice pun
ElQuesoCapitan - September 1, 2009
Jack needs to swing the goddamn bat
Designated WHAT?
Brian in 317 - September 2, 2009
Too many wasted oppurtunities.
Crappy pitching outdone by crappy hitting. Oh well.
DAY GAME.
ElQuesoCapitan - September 1, 2009
So did anyone hear me yelling at Josh Anderson for most of the game? I was yelling out his name when he was at bat while the whole stadium was quiet
A's10thMan - September 2, 2009 via mobile
a toast
and yet, still…raising a pint of ska pinstripe in the general direction of the streak….hell to the yeah.
tresselfan - September 2, 2009 via mobile
Great job, en. :)
Welcome to the Main Page. Aslo, as a lefty bowler, it’s always nice to see an Earl Anthony reference…even with his eyes poked out. (R.I.P., Earl.)
Missed the threads completely last night, so when I saw the score on TV, had to check here first (as always). Shame we couldn’t take advantage of a shoddy Royals staff – and that we were treated to another garden variety teA’se.
Doesn’t look like today’s game is on MLB EI at first glance. Can anyone confirm that?
Derwood13 - September 2, 2009
A's Ineptitude Wearing Me Down
The Royals suck more than the A’s, but the A’s failure to put runs on the board in the latter innings and win last nights game would drive me to drink if I didn’t already do so.
This season needs to end soon, and what is worse is that I can not see where they will be any better than a fourth place club next year. Hello Pirates!
hokecole - September 2, 2009
The A's are just...
absolutely fucking horrible. The Royals are as well. I love watching Jack Cust strike out looking, especially in the late innings of a close game with runners on base. It’s one of the qualities that make him a truly valuable player. Perhaps his Little League coach never told him to “swing if it’s close when you have two strikes”, or maybe he should still be playing Little League ball.
Keystone State - September 2, 2009
Congratulations...
To emp for his acceptance into the fold this hand with a Jack high and no aces, and to the Apathetics for the lowest attendance on the day, worsting the Pirates by 275 for a grand(?) total of 10,039. At least our attendance was above the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is pathetic either way you look at it.
Being an A’s fan in Tiger country hasn’t been easy, especially considering the fact that both teams faced each other the last time either made it to the playoffs. I’m looking forward to a triumphant return to Oakland on the 15th, with hopes that there will still be a team to root for when I get there. Who’s still on the A’s? Get your house of flash cards ready, because one Cust could blow the whole thing down.
Oh, and emp, not as Soria as I was to finally decipher that pun on 1/2-hr of sleep.
OaklandNative - September 2, 2009 via mobile
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