The A’s team the Yankees will face over the next three days is currently in first place in the American League West. That doesn’t mean they’re any good. The A’s are 9-5, with six of those wins having come at home. Thus far they have gone 4-3 against the Mariners, 3-1 against the Orioles, and taken two of three from the Angels. That’s a solid intra-division showing, but the Mariners are missing Cliff Lee, and one of the A’s wins against the Halos came against replacement starter Matt Palmer.I’d say the A’s are headed for a fall, but they haven’t really climbed to any great height just yet. The Angels and Rangers, the real cream of their division, are just two games behind them in the standings, and with the Yankees coming to town, things are about to get serious.
The A’s have some pitching. Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets are currently healthy. Twenty-two-year-old lefty Brett Anderson is an emerging ace. Twenty-six-year-old lefty Dallas Braden, who will face CC Sabathia on Thursday, is emerging as a nice, team-controlled mid-rotation innings eater, and tonight’s starter, 24-year-old lefty Gio Gonzalez, is a prospect with good stuff, a nice high-upside option for the fifth spot. That rotation has posted a 2.70 ERA thus far, second only to the Cardinals in the majors, and home-grown arms such as Trevor Cahill (currently rehabbing an injury to his non-throwing shoulder) and Rutherford, New Jersey’s Vin Mazzaro provide depth with major league experience at Triple-A. The A’s bullpen, headed by 2009 Rookie of the Year closer Andrew Bailey, has been solid as well and should continue to be so.
That the A’s have been the stingiest team in the American League in the early going is particularly impressive given that they’re nothing special on defense. That their pitching has carried them to the top of their division is similarly impressive given that they can’t hit. In terms of runs scored per game, the A’s have been roughly league average in the early going, but their component performances, especially their .362 team slugging percentage (third worst in the AL and sixth-worst in baseball), are unimpressive. There is worse to come.
Here’s a question: who is the A’s best hitter? Is it Daric Barton, the first base prospect who finally seems to be clicking? Barton is an on-base machine, but he doesn’t have much power. His ceiling seems to be something like a healthy Nick Johnson. Is that their best hitter? Is it Kevin Kouzmanoff, the power-hitting third baseman acquired from the Padres? The right-handed Kouzmanoff has finally escaped Petco Park only to find himself playing his home games in a stadium that had a 77 park factor for right-handed home runs over the past three years per The Bill James Handbook (Petco’s was 86). Kouzmanoff has hit .284/.328/.477 on the road in his career. Is he their best hitter? Is it Eric Chavez, the man once tagged as the A’s franchise player whose bad back limited him to 31 games over the past two years and who, having returned as a designated hitter, has yet to start hitting again? Chavez has hit .249/.323/.439 over the last six seasons. Is he their best hitter? Their third-place hitter is Ryan Sweeney, a righty-swinging outfielder with a career .286/.343/.388 line in 1,109 plate appearances in the major leagues. Is he their best hitter?
The A’s have two monster hitting prospects on the way in first baseman Chris Carter and outfielder Michael Taylor, but neither is here yet, and Carter will bounce Barton, who likely is the A’s best hitter right now. Curiously, Barton, Carter, and Taylor, as well as Brett Anderson, were all eventual products of the Mark Mulder trade. Barton came over with Dan Haren in that deal. Carter and Anderson came over with Carlos Gonzalez when Haren was traded to Arizona, and after Gonzalez was traded to the Rockies in the Matt Holliday deal, and Holliday was traded to the Cardinals for Brett Wallace, Taylor (who had just been dealt from the Phillies to the Blue Jays in the Roy Halladay trade) was acquired for Wallace.
Provided Carter and Taylor deliver on their promise, that’s all pretty impressive, particularly given how quickly Mulder’s career was ended by injury, but it also draws attention to how little else has gone right for the A’s in the five years since the Mulder deal (the same period that encapsulates Chavez’s poor hitting line above). From the Tim Hudson trade, to the collapse of Bobby Crosby’s career, to burning a first-round pick on signing Estaban Loaiza, to recent top prospect Grant Desme (a compensation pick for Barry Zito) retiring at age 23 to enter the ministry, Billy Beane has gone from Midas to Medusa, and the A’s have gone from a model franchise to a perennial 75-win team in a fairly weak division. I don’t expect much to change this year. I do look forward to Carter and Taylor’s arrival, but I’m learning not to get my hopes up when it comes to A’s prospects, and this team is more than a pair of thumpers away from real contention.
Oakland A’s
2009 Record: 75-87 (.463)
2009 Pythagorean Record: 81-81 (.500)
Manager: Bob Geren
General Manager: Billy Beane
Home Ballpark: Oakland Coliseum
Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-94, LH HR-106
RH Avg-94, RH HR-77
25-man roster:
1B – Daric Barton (L)
2B – Mark Ellis (R)
SS – Cliff Pennington (S)
3B – Kevin Kouzmanoff (R)
C – Kurt Suzuki (R)
RF – Ryan Sweeney (L)
CF – Rajai Davis (R)
LF – Travis Buck (L)
DH – Eric Chavez (L)
Bench:
R – Jake Fox (C/UT)
L – Gabe Gross (OF)
L – Eric Patterson (OF/2B)
R – Adam Rosales (IF)
Rotation:
R- Ben Sheets
L – Dallas Braden
R – Justin Duchscherer
L – Brett Anderson
L – Gio Gonzalez
Bullpen:
R – Andrew Bailey
R – Brad Ziegler
L – Craig Breslow
L – Jerry Blevins
R – Edwar Ramirez
R – Tyson Ross
R – Chad Gaudin
15-day DL:
CF – Coco Crisp (fractured left pinkie)
RHP – Trevor Cahill (left scapula stress reaction)
RHP – Michael Wuertz (shoulder tendonitis)
RHP – Joey Devine (Tommy John surgery)
60-day DL:
LHP – Josh Outman (Tommy John surgery)
RHP – Jon Meloan (elbow ligament tear)
Typical Lineup:
R – Rajai Davis (CF)
L – Daric Barton (1B)
L – Ryan Sweeney (RF)
R – Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)
R – Kurt Suzuki (C)
L – Eric Chavez (DH)
R – Mark Ellis (2B)
L – Travis Buck (LF)
S – Cliff Pennington (SS)
I wonder if we'll get to see Edwar Ramirez come in this series and walk to guys before giving up a booming HR.
After 3 inning, Texas has 5 SBs against Wakefield/VMart... including 1 on a pitchout and 2 for Vlad!
Oh..... and Nancy Drew (.250 OBP) is batting 2nd and the 'Terrible Termite' is batting 3rd! Big Sloppy (.158 .238 .289) now has 16 Ks in 39 AB (41%)
"...and with the Yankees coming to town, things are about to get serious."
You damn right, son!!
Glad to see the games are starting at a decent hour this week.
Jeremy HRmida!
Texas up 5-2, has 6 SBs against Wakefield/VMart… Big Sloppy now has 17 Ks in 40 AB (42.5%)
Jorge doesn't look so bad now, eh? 8 steals!
Oh man I love seeing the shit socks suck to start a season.
Shit Sox are shitty!
Gio Gonzalez sounds like a pitcher who could confound the Yankees for 8 innings.
There's not a team in the AL I know less about than the Ehs. I haven't been this unfamiliar with Oakland probably since I was a kid. Completely lost track of them.
Gardy getting the start against a lefty!
2 questions: 1) should we expect to see Thames tonight due to the LHP?
2) how is Gonzales' move to 1st? Cos I was hoping for some bottom-of-the-order steals against Suzuki tonight.
Texas up 6-2, has NINE SBs against Wakefield/VMart…
[11] D'oh -- that nixes my #1 question
[14] I was surprised by it. But I"m glad for it. It will be interesting to see how he does.
if Swish seems a lil dazed tonight... fear not. It's 4/20, mang. boooooooooooong.
I'm at work tonight. I'll be listening 2 minutes behind on the mlb gameday broadcast.
Lest anyone feel sorry for the shit socks, just remember back a couple years ago when Jorge had shoulder issues and they ran wild on him.
Baseball isn't for the merciful. Fuck them.
[16] Welcome to Cali, bro.
Remember that gravy boat that John Candy drove around in Uncle Buck and how when he'd park it, the car would gurgle and sputter for ten seconds before backfiring really loud... well, that car's better than Boston right now...
The Rangers are desperately attempting to give the game back. With some help from clueless umpiring -- Ruddick's pop fly plainly hit a fan on the bounce, but they missed the ground rule double call and a runner scored from first on the play.
However, the Sox are still pathetic. Oh, man, Tito pinch hits for Ortiz with two on and two out, Darren Oliver pitching! Wow. And Lowell walks. And they pinch run for him. And Beltre grounds out weakly to end the threat.
I work with a bunch a sawx fans up in here. They ain't been sayin sheet.
[21] They're pissed at Theo, huh? You should whisper "run prevention" and then pretend it wasn't you who said it.
SINGY!
No Kay!!!
[girl who sang the Star Spangled Banner] ooh baby... you were just a lil flat on that high D. Nice voice, though.
Can anyone remember the last time a playoff-caliber team had their entire OF batting 7th/8th/9th?
Evening, Team.
Here we go...
[19] I love that movie. : )
Hm, are we going to have trouble with Gio?
Well struck, Teix!
Um, if that was the result of NJ's new aggressive approach, I hope he cuts it out and goes back to being passive and, you know, getting on base.
[31] Alternatively, he could both be a bit more aggressive and continue to get on base. That's what I'm pulling for.
I LOVE games on the west coast, when Toronto plays on the east coast, because that means Yankees baseball on the TeeVee.
Big strikezone
[31] [32] Hm, I dunno, that one at bat might be too small a sample to draw confident conclusions.
Strike 2 was a ball outside. Catcher moved his glove after catching it.
[32] Again, I trust MLB players to do what they do. Since he is getting on base there is no need for him to fuck with his "approach" or whatever. The hits will come.
[35] Hence my use of the conditional...
[35] Nah, I'm not drawing any conclusions. Just saying I do think he should try to raise his average a bit and continue to draw his walks. Happy medium and all.
Darnell McDonald, first ML at bat, pinch hitting for Reddick, first ML game... two run homer to tie the game!
Hang one more curveball up there.
Hang in, Robbie...
And Robbie walks!
Very nice AB there by Robbie
[34] [36] hehe -- Suzyn just said Gonzolez will get flustered if he doesn't get the calls he thinks he should be getting. Seems like this ump is the best man for him.
It's bizarro world: NJ flies out on the first pitch and Cano works a walk after a long AB!!!
If that's the result of Robbie's new approach, then I hope he keeps it up!
Ha!
Cue the circus music!
What the hell was that?
Wow.... what a break!
We used to have a first baseman that did things like that.
[39] So wait, you think that to this point he is *not* trying to raise his average? That he is consciously trying to have a low BA for the sake of getting as many walks as possible?
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.
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It is BIZARRO WORLD: Po just beat out a grounder...sort of.
That was Barton doing his "Piazza at 1B" impression
Ooooh, Swish!
*Smoked* that motherfucker!
Merry-go-round!
[48] http://tinyurl.com/rb3o4u
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Scored an IF hit?! So Po really did beat out an IF Hit!
[31][47] Not that it's relevant to the situation, but they both do a lot of animal charity work. (something like that...)
[57] Not that it’s relevant to your point, but they both do a lot of animal-based charity work.
(That's the official sentence.)
[56] I think official scorers have been put on Earth to mess with my head. Oy.
[52] Come on, mp, do you really think that's what I mean?
That looked alot better off the bat
[58] ahhh, there it is. hehe
Swish with the 4/20 dish!
[57] Heh hehehh.
"Animal-based," I believe it was.
It looks like the good-road/bad-home Swisher is back this season.
Alright, JV. Don't shit the bed.
RI - that's impressive that you remember that so quickly. Unless it's just been active on your computer's clipboard for 11 months, or however long it's been.
3 runs and worked him 36 pitches in the 1st? I'll take it!
[66] I will never reveal my secrets. I am mysterious.
[60] I don't know what you meant, but if your point is that "it is better for players to have high batting averages AND even higher OBP," then I pretty much agree. If your point was that NJ *needs to* (or even *should*) do something different because he's leading the league in walks, has a .400+ OBP even though the hits haven't started to fall 10 or so games into the season, well, I would not sign on with that.
[67] you're berry berry sneaky.
Jome Run Javy will find a way to give up homers to the A's, John
Ooohhh, that was Good Javy spinning his magic.
[71] The walk concerns me. But maybe he'll gain confidence with the outs, or something.
[68] I'm not sure it's just a question of the hits not falling. The hits might not be falling because he lets too many hittable pitches pass and is therefore forced to put less hittable pitches in play, thus resulting in fewer hits.
I'm simply suggesting that it's eminently plausible to me that he could convert some of those walks into hits by being a bit more aggressive and swinging at meatballs. Obviously it's a balance, but I'm just suggesting that so far, erring on the side of passivity has not yielded optimal results.
Jesus Montero went deep again tonight...good news from far and wide.
He did not go.
Papelbon walks Treanor on 12 pitches, two out in the top of the ninth (tie game).
[68] He'll walk now for sure.
Damn.
[73] Based on my observation, I think Johnson has been hitting the ball well, but most of his line drives have been caught. Obviously, I could be wrong, but as long as he is getting on base over 40% of the time, I don't think he should consider changing his approach.
[76] ... then Bianco pops out, one pitch, to end the inning.
[73] I see what you're saying, but I reject your basic assertion that NJ is "erring on the side of passivity". As for not yielding optimal results, I'd rather not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. So long as he is not making outs, that *is* pretty much optimal. Getting on base = not making outs.
I hope Nick didn't swing 2-1 b/c he was looking for something else. Rats.
Anecdotal, of course, but Flash has really emphasized---indeed complimented---NJ's (allegedly) new, aggressive approach. He is 0-2 with no times on base.
So wait, now apparently NJ says that "the OBP will works itself out" but "he needs to be more aggressive." Holy backwards logic!
[64] holy chit, william -- I just read your lasted post. I didn't realize he only hit .053 over those 6 home games. That's MISERABLE. ugh.
[84] odd type-o. lasted = latest.
[83] I think there is danger in NJ letting the "be more aggressive" talk get to his head. He shouldn't go up to the plate committed to swing at a first pitch, or any pitch for that matter.
oh boy.
[79] Fair enough.
[81] Fair enough, I say again.
That was awful pitching by Vazquez. He seems to get frustrated when he can't finish off a hitter, even if he his fooling the batter, and then throws one of his lesser pitches. Vazquez needs to be a lot more fastball and change and less curve ball.
Hm. Flash commends NJ's new approach and NJ immediately goes 0-2. Kenny commends Javy in the early going and he immediately puts 2 on with 0 out.
Coincidence? I think not!!
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OK, I'm fired up tonight: LOST and Yankees on TV, all in the same evening.
[84] The home/road split is really hard to explain, but his how now been more than one season.
Very poor base running, or somewhat odd contact play?
[91] Still better than Kay
[94] Well yes, of course!
Look what I found
[86] I definitely agree with that.
I think the main question is whether he should be more aggressive on fastballs down the middle. As it is, he lets 'em go because he's looking to walk, or so it seems. Since his eye is so good, that's the only explanation. He could, in other words, go up looking to unload on said fastballs while letting the borderline pitches go.
*Could,* not should.
Wow!
Nicely done!
Oy. Watch your lips.
Better to be lucky than good.
Lucky > Good.
Sox with 1st and 3rd, 1 out, 9th inning at Fenway, 6-6 tie. Beltre up.
[97] I don't get the impression that NJ takes fastballs down the middle because he would rather walk. Instead, I think is approach is to look for one kind of pitch and take all others. So, when he is sitting breaking ball, he is apt to take a fastball down the middle.
Beltre pops up. 2 out. Vegatek up.
Wow, nice throw.
Wow, nice arm.
[104] Cut that out!
[102] Ah, that could be it.
Vegatek walks. Sacs loaded, 2 out.
[106] Hehheh heh. I was at my kid's practice earlier. I'm easily impressed because of it.
[106] Oh I see!
Never mind.
McDonald who tied the game in the 8th with a HR, hits the Monster. Boston wins. Fukin' Texas BP.
Sox win
[111] Huge win for Boston...the AL West really doesn't have a good team.
And here is Jorge "Go-Go" Posada.
They still haven't changed that call?
Wtf?
There was one of those last game too, no?
Some ridiculous "hit?"
[114] Hah ah aha ha h !
Texas had 9 SBs and 9 BBs, and were up 6-2 after 7. Talk about giving it away.
Old Reliable over there.
[117] NINE??
Goddamn.
That's loony-tunes.
That wasn't Darnell McDonald's first ML game. He's been hanging around for years. Was on the Reds big league roster last year, and sucked like a black hole. Ending up being sent down. I saw a lot of him at Scranton and Syracuse last year.
He certainly had a good night tonight, though.
[119] http://www.partyoutfitters.com/itempics/misc/BoppCircus.mp3 ?
[121] Delicious! Thank you!
[121] They were showing V-Mart on MLB earlier trying out a new catching stance whilst catching Wakefield. Good times. They've got to change course, no? Will they have a new catcher by Memorial Day?
[121] God how I love it. I think they should play it at appropriate times at the ballpark.
How did you know how to find this? I guess if you just google "circus music" it'll come up, eh?
[124] I will never reveal my secrets. I am mysterious.
Oh wait, that's RIYank's line.
Actually, I am just a googlin' beast.
[124] :)
Nice ab by Curtis, hanging in against the southpaw.
[125] This guy? ; )
Ah the google beast.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PkH49pJIDek/SxHdaBXDRII/AAAAAAAAAXQ/73STje8-MhU/s1600/115381-156676-beast-boy_super.jpg
JV has looked decent, but this isn't exactly a killer lneup.
nice to come home to a lead.
really sux about the shit sox rallying. boo!!!
how's javy look?
[128] Agreed. But my prediction is that when the Yanks are in the playoffs, Hughes will have passed Javy as the #4 starter. So all they need JV for is to roll up wins against the dregs during the regular season.
[128] It isn't a killer lineup, but Javy is doing what he should against it (at least so far).
Does anyone else feel old watching Chavez (even if he is turning back the clock tonight):?
[130] that's very interesting, dude. he's got all the potential. I also read somewhere (prolly here) that Phranchise Phil being in the 5-spot means he'll frequently match up against the opposing team's ace.
[129] whassup, thelarmis..
[131] Yup.
[131] I'd like to see Cervelli catch JV just for shits and giggles. I'm thinking he'd call more fastballs. But who knows? 80 pitches. 4 shutout innings. Not great. Not terrible.
Jeter's not helping the cause much tonight...must be that lingering cold.
And here's Nick "the Swinger" Johnson.
[131] i just feel old. though, i look very young, so i guess i have that goin' for me!
[130] not enough gigs, students, sessions...or girls. other than that, i look young!
; )
There he goes again.
Hit > BB > out.
nick johnson walked. stop the presses!!!
i'm still pissed that boston came back to win...
78 pitches through 4? meh. He won't get us to the 7th unless he steps up to a 1-2-3 inning soon. There's been at least one baserunner every inning for the As so far... single, walk, 3 baserunners, and a walk (working backwards).
[141] I doubt this changes their concerns.
All right, Alex, it's all you, my friend.
Teix is walking WAY too much. Time to change his approach.
Sort of quick hook by Geren.
And he goes with a LHP v. A-Rod. Interesting.
Remember when Nick was picked off third that time?
Big Time.
Sweet baby Jesus.
Alex.
I told you it was all you.
Well done, Mr. Rodriguez.
That was beautiful.
ARod however, should not change his approach.
sterling just pooped his pants
what i miss what i miss what i miss? Javy twirling a shutout?
[155] Let's see:
Javy pitching a shut out
Po beating out an infield single
Nick Johnson unveiling his new, free swingin' approach
Dogs and cats living together
Swarms of locusts
Did I miss anything?
Check that:
Javy pitching a shut outPo beating out an infield single
Nick Johnson unveiling his new, free swingin’ approach
Dogs and cats living together
Swarms of locusts
Did I miss anything?
[156] wow! things get funky out on the west coast, don' t they! i know you're joking about Posada though.
M's vs O's on tv here..my god, these are two terrible, boring teams...what happened to the new generation O's with Jones, Wieters and good pitching? they are stinkalicious...
Javy's fastball still concerns me a little. That was an 88mph fastball that was just deposited into the seats. For the game, Javy only has 18 fastballs faster than 90. I hope he finds a few extra mph as the season progresses.
shutout no more.
[158] no joke about posada!
Jorgie didn't really beat out an infield single, OK. I mean, that's what the scorecard would have you believe, but the rest of us saw the first baseman bust out his circus clown routine.
[158]i know you’re joking about Posada though.
No, I kid you not.
[158,161] E3 for the love of Mo. : )
That's a fucking strike.
[163, etc] Wow again...
Nice play, Derek.
Atta boy, Javy. Didn't even need to almost lose your face on that one.
Is that three consecutive innings that have ended with a ball hit right back to Javy (with varying degrees of velocity)?
98 pitches... think he'll be back out for the 6th?
[171] Yes, but only because Girardi seems to pushing all of the starters to go around 110 pitches.
WAITER! I ordered a one-two-three inning. pfft.
[171] In the effort to build up arm strength I say yes.
[172] However, big lead + short start = first appearance by Boone Logan?
Bunt-n-run here, I say.
Granderson's been doing just fine against the southpaws, no?
1,000 push ups.
Dammit. Run laps for that, Gardy.
[177] Including tonight:
5-19, 5 H, 1 3B, 1BB, 7 K
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Damn, that's a HR in NYS.
Looks like Javy is coming back out for the bottom of the sixth.
All right, Team, I'm to bed, hold down the fort. Mp, you're in charge: if I wake to find we've somehow managed to lose this game, I'm holding you responsible.
1-2-3! 1-2-3! 1-2-3!
Jaaaaavy. Jaaaaavy. Jaaaaaaavy. VAZQUEZ!
Nice to see some velocity late in the pitch count...if Javy can add a little and take off a little, I think he'll be fine. He has only thrown 6 changeups after a fastball all game, which seems odd.
boooooooo
Not good.
fuckin umps taking time when they're hit by a pitch or foul ball. pfft! It's a disgrace!
And for the third time tonight:
http://www.partyoutfitters.com/itempics/misc/BoppCircus.mp3
I don't like seeing that.
[185] ditto
I don’t like seeing that.
Again, he gets beat on a fastball. I don't think you can consider this start anything more than a C+.
Flash: "It looks like he [Javy] has found a nice rhythm here at the end"
Two seconds late, Suzuki hits a moonshot.
I don't get too many games on TV here in Canadia..is Flash always this wrong all the time, like he has been tonight?
[192] Certainly not a "quality start" by the traditional definition.
well those 9 pitches were worthwhile.
So the homeplate umpire was basically impaired for the last AB or two.
For some reason. Vazquez is thowing more curves and changes and fewer sliders to go along with a fastball missing about 2mph. Hopefully, Vazquez is just dealing with a dead arm.
It's incredible how miscues in the field come back to bite you.
[187] dang. guess he got hurt. sorry to joke about it, then. Hope you're alright, Ed Rap.
[198] but your joke is right. what the hell are they doing?
So are you guys just troopers staying up this late, or are ya working nights, like me?
[200] i'm always up. mr ok and i usually close shop around here! : )
[199] Presumably the replacement ump needs time to put on his gear, which (again presumably) is fitted and stored in the clubhouse or wherever. That explains the delay.
[200] I'm up late just watching the game. I'm not sure how long I'll last, though.
[202] well i understand that, i just don't see why it would take more than 2 minutes.
[200][201] Yep, late night music chat to commence in about..oh, 30mins or so?
Rangers stole NINE bases and lost??
[205] aaaaaand nine walks.
[204] The delay was only 13 minutes (it seemed longer, for sure). That doesn't strike me as an unreasonable delay for the umpire to go to the clubhouse, get changed and then return to the field, while the injured ump is taken off the field under medical supervision.
To return to a dead horse from earlier in the thread:
Supposedly aggressive Nick Johnson (first two PAs), commended by Flash: 0-2
Regular patient NJ (second two PAs): 0-0, 2BB.
I prefer the latter.
[205] unfortunately, i'm doing like a million things round the house right now, so prolly not tonight. i keep checking in periodically though and i need to read cliff's series preview...
Edwar in microcosm. All we need now is a HR.
[209] Haha, same here! "working" at home today as Jazz Jr is under the weather, but will be back and forth.
the phantom warrior!
i'll be quite disappointed if this doesn't result in a grand slam. or, at least, a bases clearing double...
Sub-optimal, but Jorge "Crazy Legs" Posada beats the relay throw to 1B.
disappointed. (kinda, not really, though...)
Come on, you can't expect to pick off Jorge "Wheels" Posada on the third-first play.
.
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Another fine play by the 3B.
Edwar really needs a new tailor.
here's an amazing performance to occupy 4 or 5 minutes. Charnett's bass solo is hot!
dang. try this one
i have this bad feeling that the game is soon gonna get uncomfortably close.
0-2...lefty and on lefty...up by 4 runs...and they don't throw another fastball. Inexplicable.
jesus christ.
joba best come out throwing high heat and a devastating slider. no runs!!!
[219] They always seem to play one of these games in Oakland.
fuuuuuuuuuuuck. Logan worked himself into a jam with every batter..
[218] Oh that is ridiculously good! Man, I was just listening last night to Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/jack DeJohnette on the live album "Up For It". They play a 15-min version of Autumn Leaves that ends in a whirlwind of heavy funk, you should check it out. There is nothing cooler than great jazz...
[224] Thanks man. I will!
First slider was not good. Strike three was a beauty, though.
Okay, that was enough Boone Logan for the year. I'm going to bed now.
JOBA!!!
[227] hehe.. one spot Boone, egh? g'night Cliff.
Run, Curtis, Run.
[230] Bunt, Gardy, bunt!
No, he looked safe!
No, I'm wrong, he was out.
c'mon Joba! Looks sharp, kid!
Nice punch out. The old one two step back.
Will Joey G blow everyone's mind and have Joba pitch the 9th?. Nah......
joba look as good as his line?!
So is Joba back? 3 Ks in 1.1IP..schweeeet!
[236] I say he'll put in Marte on the short rope, obviously, since one baserunner = save situation. Course that assumes the Yanks don't blow it open.
bah. sterling just said Marte is up in the BP
Only 18 pitches for Joba..why not leave him in?
Who this new Cano kid?
[241] Surely you jest. Joba is the eighth inning guy. As it it stands, Girardi already pushed the boundary by bringing him in during the seventh inning, though the situation sort of justified it.
Or are you asking the question rhetorically, or even ironically?
Sergio Mitre warming up side-by-side with Mo. Those two are always inseparable in my mind.
Goddamn Marte.
[243] I recently joined the Rolaids Memorial Fireman's Appreciation Society on Facebook, so it is my sworn duty to promote multi-inning stints from Joba..(I'm Rich Gossage and I approve this message.)
Having to use Mo here is disgraceful.
This annoys me. Can't there be someone else out there to finish a game?
[247] Absolutely.
I would be happy to see Marte pitch/finish the 9th, but you CAN'T walk the first batter.
[247][248] tying run on deck would be a save situation, yeah? So, he's early here. GET OUT OF MY HEAD, JOHN STERLING!
Is this a save situation?
[251] OK, that's what I thought.
Praise be Mo!
[252] naaa... tying run on deck would be a dave sit. i.e. if there were 2+ men on with a 4 run lead.
Mo is the greatest!!!
goddamn late ass gameday audio. I just realized that [254] was ACTUALLY when the game ended. heh
It might notta been the cleanest win in the history of professional sports, but it didn't hurt as bad as that Mets/Cards game last Sat.
first place! ; )
Good night all...2 1/2 hours until it's time to wake up.
[259] You get up at 4:30 am EST? Work on the Today show or something? (Is that even still on tv?)
[259] oooh. ouch! i hope to sleep til noon! : )
[259] g'night william.
[260] I can relate. I get up at 3:50 am when I'm on dayshifts. Ya get used to it.
[261] ahhh, the natural musician's habitat!
[261] 3:15pm here! Time to do a bit more "work", then start cooking. Sneaking out for an hour at a jazz bar tonight too, hopefully! Listening to some swinging Steve Turre now.
[263] dude. steve turre is super cool! plays the "shells"!
[262] yeah man. i work the "other" 9-5! : )