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)

Skipping 183 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

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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