The 2006 A's of Oakland or the Golden State A's of San Jose by way of Fremont . . .

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EXCITED!

Can Joe Blanton repeat his fantastic rookie second half? Can the A's stay healthy? Will Frank Thomas get more than 100 at bats? Will the rabid Oakland press ignore Milton into a fury?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 17:54 (twenty years ago)

The 2006 thread obv!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:07 (twenty years ago)

this one dude in my office is pals with b!lly b3an3, weirdly enough.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:22 (twenty years ago)

Has B!lly thrown any chairs while he's been around?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:26 (twenty years ago)

i don't think he's ever been to our office? i don't really understand your question.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:38 (twenty years ago)

A notable scene from Moneyball involves a frustrated BB chucking a chair in the locker room during an A's game.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:45 (twenty years ago)

Alex means in Office Dude's presence ... or did OD tell BB not to fuck up his eyes by reading, as Lenny Dykstra did?

Prospectus likes the pitching depth (free article):

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4888

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:46 (twenty years ago)

(xxpost)I was jokingly asking if your officemate has witnessed B34n3's famous temper, but nevermind back to discussing the A's! Loaiza get his first spring training start today!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:46 (twenty years ago)

BP, in the 2K6 Prospectus, notes that the Loaiza contract, compared to what other free-agent starters got this off-season, is a relative steal.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:50 (twenty years ago)

a frustrated BB chucking a chair in the locker room during an A's game

I thought that was his reaction to the A's drafting Bonderman? I think there were a few chair-throwing incidents in the book.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:50 (twenty years ago)

If he pitches like he did in 2003, then it's a steal. If he pitches like he did in every other year during his career, I think he's overpaid. I don't see how the A's can be certain as to which Loaiza will show up this year.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:52 (twenty years ago)

Even he just pitches like he did last year, he's a very good deal.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:54 (twenty years ago)

There was also the time that BB chucked a chair after some office plebe, coming back from a Carl's Jr run, forgot to ask for extra BBQ sauce.

2005 wasn't so bad for EL, either!

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah last year wasn't so bad -- in an extreme pitcher's park. He's had exactly two good seasons in his entire career and he's 34 years old. And he's signed for what, 3Y/21M?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:02 (twenty years ago)

BP, in the 2K6 Prospectus, notes that the Loaiza contract, compared to what other free-agent starters got this off-season, is a relative steal.
-- David R. (quoteidio...), Today 10:50 AM. (popshots75`)

Dudes, I was telling you this on I LOVE BASEBALL. Save your money, it's FREEEEEEEEE!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:03 (twenty years ago)

i know about the chair-throwing incident, it didn't follow for me really. i think od has only actually met him once. they're internet buddies, like us!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Beane does BBs instead of watching the games? No, he watches the games now, right?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:09 (twenty years ago)

I think he's mellowed somewhat. I don't know if he watches many games live though.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:11 (twenty years ago)

I've seen him walking around the Coliseum during BP.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:17 (twenty years ago)

come July, when any two of the Schilling/Beckett/Wells trifecta are on the DL, Beane'll flip Loaiza and his polarizing conract into Jon Lester, or something. That is if Satan still has his back.

― ample parking (Garrett Martin), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:24 (twenty years ago)

Or, um, the Red Sox will just bring Lester up?

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:25 (twenty years ago)

They bring him up, and after a second shaky outing WEEI's switchboard explodes from the overwhelming volume of ignorant and rage-filled anti-Lester calls. The boos become so thick that Lester, confidence torn asunder, thinks about taking that Green Lantern gig down at Six Flags. After a couple weeks he gets sent down and/or traded. At some point during all this the Herald runs the headline Wait a Minute, Lester.

― ample parking (Garrett Martin), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:34 (twenty years ago)

ian johnson is thinking about taking that green lantern gig down at six flags!

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:36 (twenty years ago)

Well he's got competition apparently.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:37 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry, I'm such an idiot. The Herald wouldn't use that headline, Droopy Dawg Gammons would, and, in fact, probably already has.

― ample parking (Garrett Martin), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:39 (twenty years ago)

At some point during all this the Herald runs the headline Wait a Minute, Lester.

looking at the siver lining i prefer to envision the day after he throws the second of back-to-back shutouts and he's the toast of the inside track and the back page of the herald screams "MO' LESTER!"

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 21:50 (twenty years ago)

HOME RUNS:  ARI - CONOR JACKSON (1) OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA IN THE 2ND
                       CONOR JACKSON (2) OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA IN THE 3RD

I take everything back!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:46 (twenty years ago)

Haha yeah he's slipped below Dontrelle in your eyes.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:57 (twenty years ago)

perhaps Conor's bright eyes see something that the rest of the AL West won't...?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:59 (twenty years ago)

Maybe his special werewolf powers.

I remember when you were all on the D-train, Shasta. Wha' happen??

― c(''c) (Leee), Thursday, 23 March 2006 06:44 (twenty years ago)

I had the gall to claim that Dontrelle's inconsistency was a major flaw in his performance.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 23 March 2006 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Do you get whiplash from your fair-weather flights of fancy, SS?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 23 March 2006 16:51 (twenty years ago)

http://www.deadspin.com/sports/miltonbradleyas.jpg

what me, worry?

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Thursday, 23 March 2006 17:44 (twenty years ago)

is that everyone's favorite board game impresario?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 March 2006 21:31 (twenty years ago)

It is. Cute, heh.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 24 March 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm in for 4/4 vs. the Yankees. Who's the pitching lineup for that schedule?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Assuming he's healthy it's gonna be Harden.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:18 (twenty years ago)

BILLY BEANE'S HOT MUSIC PICKS!
Likes:
Stereolab
Belle & Sebastian
Hot Hot Heat

Not down with:
Arctic Monkeys

SPECIAL 80s TIP
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/lance_blankenship_auto.jpg

Likes:
NWA

― c(''c) (Leee), Thursday, 30 March 2006 18:03 (twenty years ago)

Haha where is that from?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 30 March 2006 18:20 (twenty years ago)

KNBR Morning Show. They might post an mp3 of the interview in coming days.

― c(''c) (Leee), Thursday, 30 March 2006 18:25 (twenty years ago)

So Crosby out for a week (maybe) with another totally stupid quirky injury. Grrr. Still between Scutaro and Perez at least they have some flexibility.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:06 (twenty years ago)

I might have to quit relying on that guy in fantasy leagues, if he keeps on Nomarring my team like this. I'd be more forgiving if Crosby could at least could hit the way that Nomar used to when he is healthy.

― chocolate kuegelhopf (Garrett Martin), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:13 (twenty years ago)

urgh... "I'd be more forgiving if Crosby could at least hit the way that Nomar used to when he is healthy."

― chocolate kuegelhopf (Garrett Martin), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:13 (twenty years ago)

between last night and the game-ender I saw vs Mets last June, Scutaro is GOTHAM KILLA!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:18 (twenty years ago)

"...The guns 'n' roses or the megadeth..."

― Jimmy Mod: My theme is DEATH (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:41 (twenty years ago)

So Crosby out for a week (maybe) with another totally stupid quirky injury.

Dude, Cano spiked him. That's part of the game!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:46 (twenty years ago)

Yeah and it's still a completely random part of the game!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

Not in the middle infield, dude!

Anyway Kendall looks hopeless at the plate, not to mention the passed ball on a chesthigh (to the batter) fastball. I thought (hoped) for a second last night that he would get benched because aside from the sac-bunt and then the HBP, is he really more valuable than Aaron Melhuse?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:26 (twenty years ago)

that was a nice game last night. at least the ending, anyway.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

John Sterling said that not using Mariano in the bottom of the 9th made sense, since it wasn't a save situation. Yay Scott Proctor!

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Harden showed real character in the top of the 1st after walking Damon and then allowing a double to Jeter. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, due to face Sheffield, A-Rod and Giambi. The fans gasped, just a day after the Yankees had trounced the A's 15-2.

He struck out Sheffield, then A-Rod then Giambi. That showed a lot of confidence, poise and character... maybe even more than Jeter.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Mo was stretching and tossing once Damon hit the double, but he never properly got on the bullpen mound.

The Yankee fan behind me also wondered why Torre wasn't calling for Mo, and I (channelling John Sterling?) made mention that on the road, the closer typically only goes into the game in a save situation (or desperation).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:52 (twenty years ago)

"Not in the middle infield, dude!"

No it's still random in the middle infield. If it wasn't SSs and 2Bs would be dropping like flies with hand injuries.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:56 (twenty years ago)

would you say that harden exhibits the quality that we, in the business, call "jeter" (or awesome + clutch to the nth power)?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:56 (twenty years ago)

yeah that first inning was nice.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:57 (twenty years ago)

Sterlin and "leverage" never to meet...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:59 (twenty years ago)

Had Harden had made a few choice fistpumps and then dove headfirst into the stands after striKKKing out Shef, Princess A-Rod and Giambi... then and only then would he qualify for only but the lowest limits of the Jeterrific scale.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:02 (twenty years ago)

(Okay, I admit it: I miss Dahlem too.)

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:06 (twenty years ago)

Princess A-Rod

just envisioned Slappy in Star Wars style hair-headphones... "Hold me, hoooold me as you did at the signing ceremony in Arlington..."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:16 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, aside from his clutch whiff with 2 men on and the game on the line... he made a bonehead baserunning blunder trying to stretch a single into a double and getting caught in a rundown... I thought he was going to go slappy again.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

wait, if a-rod is princess leia, does that make the giambino porkins?

i saw him "run" the bases last night and his jiggling gut was memorizing.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:38 (twenty years ago)

yeah that baserunning blunder totally fucked up sheff's possible go-ahead run, right? not that gary's wheels are all that fast (replay had him lookin' real sllooooooow). but i'm sure dudes will blame it on bowa.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:45 (twenty years ago)

One last thing: Derek Jeter is much taller than you think. I had no idea he would be taller than I am.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

i saw him "run" the bases last night and his jiggling gut was memorizing.

If you think that's good, try watching a Brewers game. 1B Brewers takes the jiggle to new heights.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:47 (twenty years ago)

ah, love the extra inning preview.

was watching some brewers last night and the commentators were patting themselves on the back (as in, man we're fortunate to work for a team w/ such swell fans) for the fact that prince fielder had started that season 0-8 w/ 7 k, yet he got a standing o when he came to bat for his 9th ab.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 17:59 (twenty years ago)

Woo hoo! Take that!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 6 April 2006 04:17 (twenty years ago)

Yanks shoulda saved some of those runs for Wednesday and Thursday.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 6 April 2006 05:11 (twenty years ago)

So I gotta ask why is the BP crowd so certain that Blanton is going to regress this year? His strikeout numbers in the minors were respectable and his big league SO/BB ratio post-June is pretty decent and keeps improving. Apparently he's not got overpowering stuff (esp. compared to Haren and Harden) but still he's got a nice array and pretty good control with all his pitches.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 8 April 2006 13:58 (twenty years ago)

looking at the annual, the only big projected change I see is in BABIP from last season to this one - .252 vs. .283. They predict his innings will go down and hits will be up a little, but K and BB about the same.

― Big Willy and the Twins (miloaukerman), Saturday, 8 April 2006 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Hargrove intentionally walked a guy in the eighth inning twice last night and both times it backfired. Also, both time he walked the struggling hitter to get to the hotter hitter. Very strange.

Frank Thomas doesn't look too hot.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 8 April 2006 16:07 (twenty years ago)

The guy hasn't played in nearly 9 months. I'll give him a bit before I write him off.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 8 April 2006 17:18 (twenty years ago)

At this pace he might have another long layoff... like, until he dies.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 8 April 2006 23:21 (twenty years ago)

Blanton had such a great rookie year, you'd almost have to bet on regression on principle.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 9 April 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

So, should I be depressed at the idea of the A's leaving (relatively) working-class Oakland for a 'burb like San Jose/Fremont? Or has the city really not supported them and wouldn't care?

― Big Willy and the Twins (miloaukerman), Sunday, 9 April 2006 17:32 (twenty years ago)

I think the answer to that question depends on how you define support.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 9 April 2006 18:58 (twenty years ago)

I live in Oakland. It takes me 15 minutes to drive to the Coliseum if there's no traffic, and 30 minutes to drive to Fremont. There is a BART stop in Fremont on the same line.

And it's not like the current stadium is in the middle of everything. The location is basically a slum, and the stadium is probably the worst, ugliest stadium in all of professional sports. Which actually makes it ideal for the Raiders. When you walk across the bridge from the BART to the stadium through a chain link tunnel, over a polluted waterway and all that barbed wire, it really sets the mood right for the Raiders.

Now, if the team moves, I think it would be awesome if the team changed it's name to the East Bay A's. How awesome does that sound?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Sunday, 9 April 2006 19:36 (twenty years ago)

"Blanton had such a great rookie year, you'd almost have to bet on regression on principle."

Yeah except that it's not like Blanton was regressing at the end of last year (like a lot of rookie pitchers not used to 200 innings tend to)! If anything he was getting stronger and stronger (and walking less and striking out more) as the season went on.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 9 April 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

Arrrrgh this series! Hold a fucking lead guys!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 13 April 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't talking about durability or fatigue... just that even via 'luck' or whatever, Blanton would have more days like...today.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 April 2006 18:00 (twenty years ago)

Are you guys okay if I rip into Jason Kendall? Or is he still "untouchable"?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 20 April 2006 21:16 (twenty years ago)

Your search for "'Kendall' 'untouchable'" has returned no results.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 20 April 2006 21:31 (twenty years ago)

Rob Neyer echoes my thoughts:

There's another trap into which a team will sometimes fall: the notion that because the lineup includes a number of good hitters, it can "carry" a player who doesn't do anything but play defense; that the runs he's costing with his bat are irrelevant. But that's not the way baseball works, or at least not very often. There's a diminishing return when it comes to scoring runs. If you score 11 runs per game, adding a 12th isn't going to add many wins. Meanwhile, if you allow zero runs per game, you'll win all of them. Also, a good defensive player will save the starting pitchers a few pitches per season, which probably translates into run prevention that doesn't show up on the fielder's personal ledger.

But the game isn't usually so complicated. If your shortstop saves 10 runs with his glove but gives away 20 with his bat, he's minus-10 and essentially one game worse than an average shortstop. And that's true whether the rest of the lineup is the '27 Yankees or the '62 Mets. So I don't doubt the A's when they say they love the way Jason Kendall works with the pitchers. But I can't help thinking that for $34 million over three years, the A's were expecting an occasional fly ball that clears the fence.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:23 (twenty years ago)

What's the news with Crosby's latest injury? Admittedly, I'm asking this in part due to selfish fantasy baseball reasons.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 22 April 2006 19:23 (twenty years ago)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/04/22/sports/s132817D24.DTL

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 22 April 2006 21:04 (twenty years ago)

He just Pinch ran for Thomas... no steal though.

Oakland's OBP (.303) is 29th (out of 30) in MLB.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 22 April 2006 21:43 (twenty years ago)

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060428&content_id=1422732&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Fuck fuck fuckety fuck fuck fuck.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 28 April 2006 22:12 (twenty years ago)

Please someone find and post the video to Jason Kendall and John Lackey wrestling on the ground!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

What!?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 22:27 (twenty years ago)

Hey, any way to get Melhuse into the game is fine by me...

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 22:53 (twenty years ago)

Temporary (7 days) yahoo! pix:

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060502/capt.c12a5e2d9b3848ff9a0a8dd696253b71.athletics_angels_baseball_ans105.jpg
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060502/capt.668c3a2a7bf14e29b0501cdd13d3705c.athletics_angels_baseball_ans106.jpg
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060502/capt.69f1739a08f54975b5acdbd39440694a.athletics_angels_baseball_ans108.jpg
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060502/capt.14e2304f13e1449698c18ef5929cb99c.athletics_angels_baseball_ans109.jpg

more (?) here:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=lackey&c=news_photos

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 00:05 (twenty years ago)

more:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/c/a/2006/05/03/AS.TMP

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 00:47 (twenty years ago)

so, any commentary? seems kind of weak just to go after a guy just for jawing at you, but i don't know the history b/w them and i do know that lackey tends to be a jerk ass. i don't know what kept jose guillen from going ballistic last night...maybe saving it up for pedro.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 12:06 (twenty years ago)

If only Kendall could hit breaking stuff instead of loudmouth Angel pitchers.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 12:35 (twenty years ago)

Amen.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 13:52 (twenty years ago)

here's the vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbkwJKgwQlM

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:04 (twenty years ago)

"Why don't you fuckng.... " (something about his elbow guard or leaning in).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:45 (twenty years ago)

Scoscia's a douche... film at 11.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Heh.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Good news! Kendall suspended for 4 games.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 5 May 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Do the A's have someone on the roster who can back up Melheuse now?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 5 May 2006 17:51 (twenty years ago)

Whatever happend to Jeremy Brown, Fat Catcher?

― c(''c) (Leee), Friday, 5 May 2006 17:58 (twenty years ago)

Whatever happend to Jeremy Brown, Fat Catcher?

I wondered this while I was reading Moneyball.

I also wondered how they feel about Ben Sheets these days, considering the fact that not drafting him was supposed to be one of the smart things they did.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 5 May 2006 18:03 (twenty years ago)

Brown's batting .323/.395/.492 (3 HRs) for Sacramento in 74 PAs. I'm not sure if he was hurt earlier or platooning but he's only caught 18 of the 27 games for Sac.

In AA they've got Kurt Suzuki (.329/.448/.430, no relation to Ichiro)and Jed Morris (.295/.367/.409).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 5 May 2006 18:40 (twenty years ago)

barton?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 5 May 2006 18:46 (twenty years ago)

They aren't bringing up Barton for two reasons: 1) he doesn't even play catcher these days and 2) even if he did it would start his service clock and there way that Beane's gonna do that prematurely.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 5 May 2006 20:17 (twenty years ago)

"I also wondered how they feel about Ben Sheets these days, considering the fact that not drafting him was supposed to be one of the smart things they did."

I'm Beane doesn't lose too much sleep worrying about the guys he didn't draft. The A's are still doing alright ya know.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 5 May 2006 20:22 (twenty years ago)

Top 4th: Oakland  
- B. Crosby homered to deep center
- A. Melhuse homered to deep right center, J. Payton scored

TRADE JASON KENDALL!!!

(who'd take him?)

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 23:02 (twenty years ago)

Jeremy Brown got the call up!

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 23:15 (twenty years ago)

He sounds frustrated... Don't charge the mound dude! Let Lackey disrespect you with his mouth all he wants, get your revenge by hitting the ball out of the infield, chumply!

Kendall rips baseball after dropping his appeal of his four-game suspension

May 9, 2006

TORONTO (AP) -- Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall ripped Major League Baseball after dropping his appeal of his four-game suspension on Tuesday.

Kendall was suspended and fined for charging Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey in a game on May 2.

"Major League Baseball has turned into a badminton league. They told me I didn't have any shot of getting my suspension knocked out," Kendall said.

Kendall said his agent, general manager Billy Beane and the players union told him he probably wouldn't have his suspension reduced.

"The fact that they won't knock anything off is embarrassing to the game because the game has changed. Now you can't really defend yourself. I understand I have to be suspended, but it's not like I went out and picked a fight. Nothing would have happened if he wouldn't have said anything to me, if he wouldn't have taken three steps hard at me," Kendall said.

Lackey threw a pitch to Kendall that started out high and inside, then sharply broke back toward the plate in the sixth inning of Oakland's 10-3 win. Kendall backed out of the batter's box, then suddenly charged the mound after Lackey said something about his elbow pad.

Kendall charged the mound and wrestled Lackey to the ground, emptying both dugouts and bullpens.

"I get called out by Lackey. He calls me out and disrespects me and I'm supposed to sit here and have him yell at me? So basically what Major League Baseball is saying is that any big league pitcher out there can yell at somebody and get fined $2,000. That's what the fine was." Kendall said.

MLB's latest disciplinary action against Kendall comes after he received a four-game suspension in August 2004 while with Pittsburgh for a similar scuffle when he charged the mound in a game against Colorado after being hit by now-teammate Joe Kennedy. The pitcher received a five-game suspension for the incident.

"I think the big thing was this was my fourth time, and all four of the fights I've been into has been about sticking up for myself or sticking up for my pitcher. I guess they don't look at that," Kendall said. "People that are making decisions have never been in a situation like that. They wait for situations like this to happen so they can have this big power. And that's what they did. They have the power right now."

The 31-year-old Kendall, who played 150 games last year in his first season with the A's, entered Friday's game batting .244 with no home runs and seven RBIs.

With Kendall dropping the appeal, Oakland was able to call up catcher Jeremy Brown from Triple-A Sacramento without having to drop somebody from its 40-man roster. Oakland manager Ken Macha said Brown wasn't likely to play. Milton Bradley is expected to take Brown's place on the 25-man roster once he's activated from the DL this week.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 23:30 (twenty years ago)

Mark Ellis apparently irritated that Marco Scutaro may be starting some at 2B responds by going 3 for 3.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 23:48 (twenty years ago)

He was 4-4 yesterday...

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 23:52 (twenty years ago)

re: kendall

what a douche. if i were steve shasta for a day, i would have given him a week. probably a bigger fine to lackey, too, but why is kendall surprised given that he ADMITS he's done stuff like that before?

dear dude,

1) you did not get hit.

2) it is well known across different sports and cultures that more often than not it is not he who provokes, but he who retaliates who gets the discplinary hammer.

fondest reagrds,

jqh

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 11:51 (twenty years ago)

I hope Brown gets to play some although Macha makes it seem unlikely that he will.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Melhuse is making it seem unlikely that he will as well.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 23:54 (twenty years ago)

fucking joe blanton

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 23:59 (twenty years ago)

What the hell happened to him? He has been abysmal.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 11 May 2006 06:52 (twenty years ago)

He started slow last year too. I'm more concerned about how Haren is suddenly home run happy.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 11 May 2006 14:46 (twenty years ago)

apparently, frank thomas left today's game w/ some sort of leg injury...

shocking.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 11 May 2006 21:07 (twenty years ago)

Someone tell me how the Dan Johnson/Swisher platoon works. DJ sits against lefties?

― c(''c) (Leee), Monday, 22 May 2006 22:43 (twenty years ago)

I don't think Johnson sits at all.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 May 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

Johnson plays first if Thomas is playing DH basically, otherwise Johnson is the DH (except when Melheuse is.) I think Swisher plays first very rarely these days because of the injury to Bradley.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 May 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty sure DJ didn't play in the first game against the Giants (lefty Noah Lowry starting).

― c(''c) (Leee), Monday, 22 May 2006 23:02 (twenty years ago)

Maybe they gave him a day off. He's not hitting real well ya know.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 May 2006 23:37 (twenty years ago)

Nice homecoming for Frank Thomas.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 23 May 2006 00:06 (twenty years ago)

I think Frank is taking out his hatred of Kenny Williams on Jon Garland.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 23 May 2006 00:29 (twenty years ago)

Mendoza at long last!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 23 May 2006 00:33 (twenty years ago)

Fucking hell.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 23 May 2006 02:16 (twenty years ago)

So I guess Billy is shopping for a bullpen?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 26 May 2006 12:03 (twenty years ago)

Maybe, but not quite as it was a questionable manager call.

Macha left Halsey in with a 7-0 lead in the 6th with the bases loaded after 100+ pitches (this is the same Halsey that gave up 714 to Bonds). Had Macha gone to the bullpen earlier, it probably would have played out better.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 26 May 2006 13:56 (twenty years ago)

You heard it here first:
- J. Kendall homered to deep left, D. Johnson scored

unbelievable!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Updates since we last chatted:

1-10 in their last 11. Huston Street? More like Huston Autobahn. "Moneyball"/OBP correlation... a figment of everyone's imagination.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 20:46 (twenty years ago)

A reappearance of vintage 2005 Blanton!

Ellis out 6 weeks -- what are the 2B options beyond Scutaro?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 June 2006 14:39 (twenty years ago)

Sorry A's fans -- Edgardo Alfonso and his .085 BA are already taken.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 1 June 2006 14:45 (twenty years ago)

Woahmack's also a no-go.

What's Mark Lemke doing?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 1 June 2006 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Mike Andrews? (dates self)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 June 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

"Ellis out 6 weeks -- what are the 2B options beyond Scutaro?"

Antonio Perez who has been begging for some regular playing time.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 1 June 2006 16:59 (twenty years ago)

bump wills

― gear (gear), Thursday, 1 June 2006 16:59 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad that as an A's fan I have always expected them to perform poorly in the early part of the year else this May might have been really depressing.

Meanwhile Frank Thomas is looking really really good. Is this just a blip or will he regress into Mark McGwire MKII shortly?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 1 June 2006 17:00 (twenty years ago)

Rivercats middle infielders:
K Ginter: .302/.371/.444 w/ 4HRs & 17BB:30K
M Rouse: .280/.360/.414 w/ 3 HRs & 16BB:31K

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 1 June 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

maybe Ginter is ready to resume his good-Brewer-season form.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 June 2006 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Both Loaiza and Harden pitched yesterday in Sacramento:

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_05_31_srcaaa_lvgaaa_1

Loaiza had 5 hits, 1BB, 4ks in 4.2 innings
Harden had 1 hit, 3Ks in 2 innings

The A's could use 40% of their starting rotation back.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 1 June 2006 19:33 (twenty years ago)

I totally forgot about Gintner. Either he or Perez seems to be a better option than Scutaro to me.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 1 June 2006 19:36 (twenty years ago)

Ginter stays down:

With Ellis to the DL with a broken thumb, Jeremy "Fat Catcher" Brown got called up again. He's batting .290/.365/.510 with 6 HRs and 13BB:24K in Sacramento.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 1 June 2006 19:38 (twenty years ago)

Harden may go Sunday...

SS, where are my photos of Haren & Street butt?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 June 2006 16:34 (twenty years ago)

Harden back to the DL (strained elbow ligament).

Bottom 5 AL Offenses, by VORP

Team, EqA, VORP

Tampa Bay Devil Rays, .251, -8.8
Kansas City Royals, .253, -0.1
Oakland Athletics, .257, 17.8
Minnesota Twins, .255, 19.3
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, .259, 23.9

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 8 June 2006 18:24 (twenty years ago)

Christina Kahrl, pessimist:

With Harden's return to the DL, I have to think that the A's are going to win whatever booby prize might come from realizing an aspiration to be like last season's Dodgers. I don't think any starting pitcher has disappointed me more since Moose Haas's repeated meltdowns, but clearly there's a lot more at stake now than there was in the Age of Chris Codiroli. Loaiza makes for a notionally solid replacement, but his early performance creates uncertainty over how well he might do, uncertainty that's pricier still since this is now a rotation that still has to use Kirk Saarloos every fifth day. That on top of wondering when the real Joe Blanton will stand up, and I guess I don't see a team with the promise the Angels have, or the general solidity the Rangers seem to be achieving.

That thought pretty much takes the wind out my sails as far as getting hopeful about having Bradley back in the lineup for the time being. Sure, it gets Jay Payton to the bench, but this is a team that has seen what was supposed to be its chief asset--its rotation--undone, and I don't really see the offense on hand to make up for that...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 9 June 2006 18:48 (twenty years ago)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/r84x/dl.png

― rxreed (rxreed), Tuesday, 13 June 2006 14:52 (twenty years ago)

Loaiza got pulled over for DUI at 3:30am Wednesday morning after driving 120mph in his Ferrari and spent the "night" in jail... is he still pitching today?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 15 June 2006 16:54 (twenty years ago)

Frank Thomas back on the DL, Fat Catcher yo-yo's back up to the bigs.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 15 June 2006 17:29 (twenty years ago)

the al west is just terrible

― gear (gear), Thursday, 15 June 2006 17:50 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

FOR SALE:
Huston Street Rookie Of The Year trophy.

Mint condition.

Serious inquiries only, please call (510)GRN-GOLD or email [email protected]

this is in or around Oakland Coliseum station
no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 29 June 2006 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

FOR SALE:
book, "How to Fulfill Your Potential"

unopened, still wrapped in plastic. $10

please reply with subject heading, "book"

thanks
Eric C.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 29 June 2006 23:08 (nineteen years ago)

I'll keep Street and his ROY of the year trophy of every one the A's have had closing since Eckersley. That said he is annoying the hell out of me with these blown saves.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 29 June 2006 23:21 (nineteen years ago)

On the bright side, the NL West has overtaken the AL West and reclaimed its rightful place as the worst division in baseball.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 30 June 2006 02:56 (nineteen years ago)

Now wait a second:

LAA lost 2 of 3 from the Rocks.
OAK barely avoided getting swept by the Dads.
TAXES was swept by the G-Men.

Only the M's won their last interleague series against the NL West.

― sLeeeter Kinney (Leee), Friday, 30 June 2006 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

Bye-bye Barry...

Zito hired Scott Boras over the weekend. Pinstripes by 8/1?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 04:05 (nineteen years ago)

I strongly doubt that Beane will trade his ace while his team is in first place.

If Zito is smart (and I've heard that he is quite smart, being the A's union rep and one of the most influential union reps), he won't sign with the Yankees, as I don't think he has the stuff for that division. I predict he signs as a free agent with the one of the California clubs or with the Mets.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 10 July 2006 04:42 (nineteen years ago)

Zito isn't going to the Yankees during the season (maybe as a free agent afterwards.) The Yankees have squat the A's want.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

The Yankees have squat the A's want.

you mean besides $$$...

You guys know what a 3-way trade is, right?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)

IT INCLUDES ASS TO MOUTH ACTION

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

Especially in the case of the Yankees.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

"You guys know what a 3-way trade is, right?"'

The Yankees don't have ANYONE that anyone ELSE is going to want either.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:23 (nineteen years ago)

DOUBLE TRUE

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:25 (nineteen years ago)

Why must you two pollute this wholesome board with your fallacies!

Do you know who Melky Cabrera is?
TJ Beam? Kris Wilson? Jose Veras? Philip Hughes?

― John Dahlem part. II (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

Oh please those guys are Grade-B prospects at best (Cabrera is okay, but the Yanks kinda need him right now TOO ya know). That won't get you Barry Zito or enough from another team to get him. The Mets have a better chance than Yanks do.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:51 (nineteen years ago)

"Oh please"? I hope Ned Colleti screws you out of another Andre Ethier (supposed Grade-B prospect). Actually, forget that, I hope Milton Bradley throws a plastic bottle at you next time you go to a game.

― John Dahlem part. IIIa (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:53 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.derekeller.com/andreethier.html

― John Dahlem pt. V (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

"Andre Ethier (supposed Grade-B prospect)"

Um the guy was the Texas League MVP and a two-time All Pac-10 selection (and maybe other stuff too, those were just the first things I remember.) Just because there were there some doubts whether or not he had the power/skill to be a major league starting OF (and let's face it, there still are--150 at bats does not prove anything) doesn't mean he still wasn't a better prospect than anyone you've mentioned.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 10 July 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

I happen to think he's incredibly talented:

http://www.myspace.com/andreethier

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 10 July 2006 23:15 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah well hindsight is 20/20.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 10 July 2006 23:17 (nineteen years ago)

In all future ILB arguments, someone must play the part of John D, plz.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 10 July 2006 23:42 (nineteen years ago)

"Actually, forget that, I hope Milton Bradley throws a plastic bottle at you next time you go to a game."

lolol! also i hope u get AIDS, no offense

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 00:00 (nineteen years ago)

I have heard of a three-way trade, but I think Zito getting traded somewhere else is more likely than him getting traded to the Yankees. And frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Billy doesn't WANT to trade him to the Yankees.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 11 July 2006 01:30 (nineteen years ago)

I am really skeptical of Zito for 5 years of big money, as much as many were about Pedro:

Top 5 Hardest-Worked AL Starters, by Pitcher Abuse Points (PAP)

Player, Team, AVG_NP, STRESS, TOT_PAP

Barry Zito, OAK, 108, 33, 68214
Curt Schilling, BOS, 106, 27, 54576
Scott Kazmir, TBA, 103, 18, 35230
Dan Haren, OAK, 105, 16, 31745
Jon Garland, CHA, 104, 14, 24950

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

Boras says Zito wants Millwood $$$: $60M/5yrs.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 12 July 2006 18:32 (nineteen years ago)

Loaiza and Kendall = 35% of Oakland's payroll.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 13 July 2006 23:23 (nineteen years ago)

MONEYSBALL HAS FAILED DO U C???/?????!!!1111

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Friday, 14 July 2006 02:31 (nineteen years ago)

Starting 1B for the Oakland Athletics: Mark Kotsay?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

Haha and he made an error too.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

Seriously, don't you think Zito's getting $75M?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:16 (nineteen years ago)

If Zito doesn't get more than Burnett then I don't understand the free-agent market (note: I may not understand the free agent market.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Boras says Zito wants Millwood $$$: $60M/5yrs.
-- Steve Shasta (steveshast...), July 12th, 2006 12:32 PM. (Steve Shasta)

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

that will go up if A's win the pennant, and if Minaya overpays the way he did for Wagner and by taking on Delgado...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:48 (nineteen years ago)

Someone read today's Sheehan article!

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

Or the article that Morb quoted on the Mets thread.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

how much of this Buster Olney guarantee that Beane will trade Zito sounds like crap to you guys?

http://www.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/7/26/2164950.html

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

Buster Olney is an idiot.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 19:43 (nineteen years ago)

That wasn't the question.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)

Well, it's crap in that his guarantees are garbage. It's not crap in that the trade does make sense for both teams. I don't understand the Heilman for Zito concept at all. I would need a lot more than Heilman.

I don't think the A's have a chance in hell this year of advancing in the playoffs past the Tigers, Twins, or Red Sox, barely have a chance against the Yankees or White Sox, and probably won't make the playoffs to begin with. I would trade Zito and Thomas and try to trade Kendall, Bradley and Loaiza as well.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 21:11 (nineteen years ago)

Polyp,

Dude, I think you're underrating the A's.

2006 Oakland A's
vs. Tigers: 4-5
vs. Twins: 3-4
vs. Red Sox: 5-3

That's 12-12 against the best 3 teams in the AL! How can that be interpreted, twisted and misconstrued into a "no chance in hell" scenario?

For shits and giggles:
vs. Yankees: 6-3
vs. White Sox: 0-3

Still .500 against probably the best 5 teams in baseball. You, sir, need a timeout!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

Based on the above, I'd be willing to say that the A's strength of schedule to date probably rates highest or among the top 3 in MLB.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

Actually it's supposedly among the lowest in their division (or at least it was for a while.) The A's are not the 2005 Padres though and if they get healthy I could definitely see them beating any of these teams in a 5/7 game playoff series. They've got very good starting pitching (if Harden comes back), an excellent bullpen, good defense, and an offense which is capable of heating up (even if it hasn't thus far.) I don't think Zito is going anywhere and yes Buster is an idiot.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:51 (nineteen years ago)

frank thomas is looking like the bargain free-agent signing of the offseason

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 23:14 (nineteen years ago)

Dude, I think you're underrating the A's.

Of all the teams that won't make the playoffs, I think they're the third best.

You're not going to stop calling me "polyp", huh?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:07 (nineteen years ago)

Except that they probably will make the playoffs I'd agree with that statement. There is no doubt though that third best team in the Central and the second best team in the East is better than the best team in the West (right now anyway, Harden comes back, some of these guys start hitting and stay healthy and I still like the A's as much as anyone.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 27 July 2006 02:51 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think the A's have a chance in hell this year of advancing in the playoffs

polyp, they might be better in Oct than heretofore because of Street and defense (ie, read the Why Doesn't Beane's Shit Work in the Playoffs chapter in Baseball Between the Numbers).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 27 July 2006 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

Fuck yeah! Go Milton go!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 30 July 2006 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

fuck! battle of the blown saves.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 30 July 2006 22:26 (nineteen years ago)

I like Street but I don't think he offers a considerable advantage over Papelbon, Rivera, BJ Ryan, FRod, Nathan, or Chunk. Todd Jones, maybe.

As far as defense is concerned, yes, they're good on defense. We'll see. I'll be happy to be proven wrong, as I like the A's a lot. I just don't think Zito, Haren, Blanton and etc. are going to be able to save this offense in the playoffs.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 31 July 2006 04:19 (nineteen years ago)

Todd Jones, maybe.

Understatement of the millenium.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 31 July 2006 06:14 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, except that Rodney/Zumaya make a pretty solid bullpen comparison if they ever bother to give up on Jones.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 31 July 2006 06:19 (nineteen years ago)

"I like Street but I don't think he offers a considerable advantage over Papelbon, Rivera, BJ Ryan, FRod, Nathan, or Chunk."

He doesn't, but he's at least as good as all but maybe the first two and a far cry from Koch or Dotel or anyone the A's have had other than maybe Foulke.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 31 July 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

I disagree. Street's nowhere near as good as Ryan or Nathan. Similar to K-Rod (great first year, a step-down since).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 31 July 2006 15:25 (nineteen years ago)

Nowhere is a bit of a stretch, but yes those guys have had slightly better years so far. Any given save situation and I think he's as good a bet as either of those guys are, frankly. Either way he's a very good reliever on a very solid defensive team which was basically all Morbius was saying.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 31 July 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

So this is the first year in how many that Oakland made no moves?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 31 July 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

The moves Beane is concerned about are the ones where guys come off the DL.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 31 July 2006 20:31 (nineteen years ago)

Will Carroll:

"Is Rich Harden made of sugar?" one loyal reader asked. The news came out today that Harden is not only dealing with an elbow sprain, but he also managed to somehow sprain his ankle during his rehab. Susan Slusser discussed the problem yesterday on Charley Steiner’s XM show, mentioning that the A’s are often less than forthcoming about injuries. Harden’s ankle sprain is interesting since multiple reports note that Harden will be cleared to begin throwing once his ankle has healed, echoing Kerry Wood at the start of the season. (Wood’s injury was to his knee, but the reasoning of not allowing the injured pitcher to have activity that might change his mechanics to compensate for the secondary injury is still there.) All indications are that Harden is still having trouble with the elbow. As delays mount, the chances of Harden’s return get smaller.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

That's sad although the A's are doing pretty good without him (shockingly consider how poor their offensive #s are.) I can't see the A's going far without a contribution from Harden though.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

For some reason Baseball Prospectus' adjusted standing have decided that the Rangers have won THREE more games and lost FOUR less games than they actually have and consequently the Playoff Odds stuff is all kinds of screwed up. A's have looked really strong lately. Even the offense is coming around a little (against the Mariners anyway.) Apparently Rob Neyer said in chat yesterday to bank on the Rangers being the team from the West, but that's a bet I think would be crazy to make.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

Meanwhile in August Esteban Loaiza remembers where the strike zone is.

Neyer apparently retracted that Rangers pick the next day btw, blaming bad seafood or something.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 24 August 2006 00:00 (nineteen years ago)

wow, an A's home game on ESPN2 tonight! What have we done to deserve it?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

Was Joe Morgan the announcer (please say YES)?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

IS Joe Morgan the announcer, you mean!

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

Joe was off last night (and with possibly sober Sutcliffe sitting in, that wasn't even a good thing), so maybe not.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

Disappointing! Of course, the A's lost night so it would have proved Joe's point that teams run by robots can't win because they don't know how to do the little things.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

I'm going tonight and have pretty good seats (3 rows behind the Sox dugout) so look for me!!!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Oh wait TONIGHT'S game is on ESPN2. I are DUMB. GO A'S! STRIKE A BLOW FOR ROBOTKIND!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 August 2006 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

I may have been incorrect earlier in this thread! :)

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 28 August 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

"earlier" meaning "all over" and "may have" meaning "was totally" amirite?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 28 August 2006 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, but that's the best thing about underestimating a team you like. Even when you lose, you win!

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 28 August 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

Which part were you incorrect about? Frank Thomas being finished? Or the A's not having a chance at the post-season?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:21 (nineteen years ago)

Someone shd investigate to see if BB brings in a "special blend" of java in August, or if he sends guys off to some spa, or something, because this late-year run thing is getting kinda silly.

Granted, some stat bore could probably point to a soft schedule or a key player returning or some other factual nonsense, but I KNOW it's something else.

(*_*)

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

Which part were you incorrect about? Frank Thomas being finished? Or the A's not having a chance at the post-season?

Well I don't think they're worse than the Blue Jays or Indians or Angels anymore.

I don't think they have a chance in the playoffs, but hopefully time will prove me wrong on that as well.

I wonder if Billy Beane will extend Thomas's contract?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

Another year-long (perhaps w/ option for more Hurt) wouldn't be the dumbest move ever.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sure whatever deal he gets from the A's would have to include payback for the chump change he's making this year. Does he have a bunch of incentives in his deal for this season?

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, he does. He'll probably end up making all of the 3.6 million in incentives that the deal was ringed with.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 28 August 2006 19:50 (nineteen years ago)

said in the ny times yesterday that he wants to play 'til he's 42.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 04:40 (nineteen years ago)

Loaiza has a winning record and a decent ERA.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 05:59 (nineteen years ago)

Wow, that game wasn't as close as the score! I could barely stay awake once Dave O'Brien and Slurry Martinez had beaten the Record Without Varitek graphic to death.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

I'm beginning to suspect that the Prospectus Hit List isn't a very useful measurement (actually I suspected this last year too when the A's were the second or third best team at the end of the year) or that the A's are rideekulously overachieving (which looking at their offense isn't hard to argue actually. . . it's also possible both are true.) Can someone explain 3rd Order Win % to me?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

I don't have the maths (Barry?). Also, Jaffe explained the Hit List methodology fairly recently... but do you mean HL or Playoff Odds?

Frank (San Jose): Frank Thomas has said he wants a multi-year deal and more guaranteed money. What chance does Oakland have of bringing him back and should they if they have to commit to two years and a significant pay raise?

Rob Neyer: (12:28 PM ET ) It's all about the $$$ (as usual). Thomas is going to make about $2.5 million this season, which is about right for a 38-year-old who can't play first base or run the bases at anything but a slow jog. Does he deserve a raise after this season? Sure. But not a big raise, and any contract must be loaded with bonuses tied to durability.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

No, the playoff odds (all three versions) make some sense to me. They show the A's with a very high chance of winning the division (which you would expect given that they have a 6.5 game lead.) But the Hit Lit methodology (which is based solely on 3rd order win %, I believe) puzzles me.

The nice thing about the A's keeping Thomas is that the A's are only competing with 5 or 6 teams (eliminate the entire NL basically and the 7 or 8 teams that already have full-time DHs) to resign him. I could see the A's signing him to an incentive laden 2 or 3 year deal which would make all parties happy.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 15:42 (nineteen years ago)

The idea that Zito will be a huge free agent bust is crazy. Zito's got a long career ahead of him (esp. if he heads to the NL, rather than the AL East.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Neyer said of course he'll be overpaid, but he's never been hurt. (ominous foreshadowing?)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

I just found the Jaffe article btw. I am reading it now.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

Okay that article doesn't explain what I am questioning, but this other one I found is.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

3rd-order wins has something to do w/ adjustments based on Pythagorean records & adjusted run totals, I think.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

zito will sign a huge guaranteed deal and then be injured in a cab accident

― gear (gear), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 16:40 (nineteen years ago)

Barry Zito has proven to have been the best choice of the big three for the A's to keep around. Mark Mulder has been a complete mess and Tim Hudson has slid quite a bit since leaving Oakland.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

Given the performance of guys Beane lets go (Miggy and Jambi Juice excepted), maybe other GMs will become so reulctant to sign any A's free agents that Oakland might be able to re-sign its own dudes!

― c('°c) (Leee), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 22:39 (nineteen years ago)

That's a bit of an understatement!

Danny Haren (acquired with Kiko Calero and Daric Barton in the Mulder trade):
GS: 28
W-L: 12-10
IP: 187 1/3
K/BB: 154:38 = 4.05
ERA: 3.80
WHIP: 1.17
BAA: .250

Barry Zito:
GS: 28
W-L: 14-8
IP: 183
K/BB: 124:77 = 1.61
ERA: 3.64
WHIP: 1.34
BAA: .250

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 22:43 (nineteen years ago)

There was definitely some talk at the time though that the A's were keeping the wrong one, as Zito was coming off a pretty meh season.

Even though Hudson has slid this year, the A's have not gotten anything out of that trade. I can't remember if they had him for one more season or not when he was dealt.

I figured signing Frank Thomas would work out if he could stay healthy, his chronic injuries were not like Bagwell where the guy just could not hit anymore. The Big Hurt had a couple of big weeks last year with the White Sox in between trips to the DL.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 23:13 (nineteen years ago)

dude, whatevs...zito will cut off the finger tip of his index finger in a tragic string changing accident.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 00:32 (nineteen years ago)

Only if he gets signed by the O's.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 01:07 (nineteen years ago)

...or teh Cubs.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 01:07 (nineteen years ago)

The A's have played a ridiculous 43 one run games this year!?!?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 15:33 (nineteen years ago)

"Even though Hudson has slid this year, the A's have not gotten anything out of that trade. I can't remember if they had him for one more season or not when he was dealt."

They got Brad Halsey and a bunch of money that they aren't paying to Tim Hudson (which I guess they are paying to Loaiza right now.) And Dan Meyer who is semi-terrible right now (but still young) and Charles Thomas who I have no idea where he is.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

The 43 one-run games explains why they outstrip the Adjusted Standings so much, then.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

So is a cheap quality relief staff and solid defense the new OBP haha?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

Bump

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 21:25 (nineteen years ago)

Should I bother bumping again? Sure why not.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 30 August 2006 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

The A's just claimed Jerome Williams off waivers.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 21:52 (nineteen years ago)

big hurt's stat line for '06 now:

35 HR
97 RBI
70 R
73 BB
68 K
.281 BA
.395 OBP
.560 SLG
.955 OPS

― gear (gear), Monday, 11 September 2006 17:25 (nineteen years ago)

that has to be the free agent signing of the year. up until Loaiza's last meltdown, that is.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 11 September 2006 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

in VORP he's #32 in MLB, one behind Paul Konerko, just ahead of Jasons Giambi and Bay.

when i was younger, despite being a cubs fan, he was my favorite baseball player. dude was unstoppable (and seems to be right now)

― gear (gear), Monday, 11 September 2006 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

and he just homered in his sixth straight game

― gear (gear), Tuesday, 12 September 2006 00:39 (nineteen years ago)

Forget Howard vs. Thome... what do y'all think of The Big Hurt vs. Word Up Thome?

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 16 September 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

I like that the A's don't have to pay Thome's salary.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 16 September 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

i'm really happy for frank thomas in all this, dude's having an awesome year. he should win comeback player of the year and be top-5 mvp

― gear (gear), Sunday, 17 September 2006 00:48 (nineteen years ago)

It's really impressive and he's the most valuable "position" guy on the A's by far, but top-5 MVP is a stretch. He missed time and was terrible in April (which makes his resurrection all the more amazing) and there are a bunch of guys who have put up better numbers (and who aren't complete baserunning liabilities.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 17 September 2006 01:06 (nineteen years ago)

The thing I always found most impressive about The Big Hurt was that for a guy with such awesome power, he had fantastic bat control and struck out so much less than most great power hitters. His K numbers have been up the past few years. Looking at his current line, Thomas is really in a groove as he is not striking out as much this season.

I don't know about MVP, but I think Frank Thomas might be the comeback player of the year.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Sunday, 17 September 2006 01:52 (nineteen years ago)

Rich Harden will be making his first start in 3.5 months against CC Sabathia this afternoon.

The good news is he's facing CC Sabathia, who typically is an above-average pitcher, but when CC returns to Oakland (his hometown) he has a 7+ ERA (1.83 WHIP, .320BAA) over his career in 5 starts.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 21 September 2006 16:13 (nineteen years ago)

Something I like to call the Dontrelle Willis syndrome.

Dontrelle in SF:
4 starts, 9.01 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, .329 BAA (doesn't include 2003 playoff meltdown either).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 21 September 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

"The good news is he's facing CC Sabathia"

What's the bad news about him being back?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 21 September 2006 17:28 (nineteen years ago)

Well see there's this thing called chronic injuries...

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 21 September 2006 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

That's the BAD thing about RICH HARDEN not about him being back, Steve.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 21 September 2006 17:34 (nineteen years ago)

Harden striking out everyone so far (also not likely to last past three if the rumours of a 60 pitch limit are true.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

And now he's out. Still 7 strikeouts in 3 innings is nice.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 21 September 2006 19:27 (nineteen years ago)

The champagne is flowing tonight in Oakland.

THIS IS THE YEAR

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 04:04 (nineteen years ago)

A's WIN! A's WIN! A's WIN! WOO HOO and I have potentially TWO postseason tickets! GO A's!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 04:22 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5560

This article should really depress me, but Zito always gets underrated by these sorts of metrics so I am just going to shrug it off.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 27 September 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

Jeremy "Fat Catcher" Brown ended up having a nice September call-up, putting up a .300/.364/.500 line. He's cock-blocked at catcher by Kendall and DH by Thomas but it'll be interesting to see what happens next year.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 2 October 2006 23:17 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

anybody know if this'll be near a rail link?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/MANDR.TMP

― jergins (jergins), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah it's right off of 880/Fremont BART.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 17:27 (nineteen years ago)

So what is the name going to be?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 17:32 (nineteen years ago)

Steve, I'm looking at the map, and isn't this on the wrong side of 880, near the water? If so, that would require a connecting bus or shuttle from the BART, but maybe I'm reading the map wrong?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

No, you're right. I thought it was the other open space out next to the freeway/BART.

It's actually FIVE (5.3) miles from Fremont BART:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=2000+BART+Way+Fremont,+CA+94536&daddr=44333+Christy+St,+Fremont,+CA+94538&ie=UTF8&z=13&t=k&om=1

This will be a disaster for the A's I'm afraid. Oh well. Maybe I'll get cable.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 18:45 (nineteen years ago)

So I guess we should call them the Las Vegas A's, Temporarily of Fremont.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah I cant imagine trying to drive up whatever respective freeway ending in 80 to get to that thing. Just driving from SCU to Fry's takes like 45 minutes on that fucker.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 19:34 (nineteen years ago)

Well anyway it's at least four seasons away so I'm not going to worry about it.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 7 November 2006 19:35 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

"He swings like a girl and runs like a woman."

--A's starter Dan Haren, on his ex-teammate Barry Zito. (Athletics Nation)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

Athletics Nation has a nice long interview with Billy Beane up now.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:36 (nineteen years ago)

Those quarterly Beane interviews are always really good/

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

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