Athletics Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

New Blog: UW Dawg Pound launches! Bar-right-arrows

A's: Don't Just Tease Me, Please Me

As_kings_cal_tiny by louismg on

Remember how this morning (yes, hours ago) I said that following a loss it can feel like the A's just wasted everybody's time and the next step is destroying nearby furniture? Well, today's no different. Not because the A's were held scoreless, or struck out 27 times or some other nonsense, but because, again, they played just poorly enough to lose. They teased us early on with back to back home runs and holding a 2-0 lead for the first half of the game, and they even bothered to tease us at the end of the game, scoring one in the ninth to keep the deficit at a single tally. The A's were even courteous enough to put the tying run on first with two outs in the ninth, bringing the leading run to the plate.

But guess what, green and gold? The point is not to tease. It is to please, and I'm not pleased. While were pleased that Emil "Don't Call Me RBI Machine" Brown got 2 of the A's 3 RBI and that Greg Smith still shows an unparalleled ability to pick runners off base (any base, it appears), the end result is still the same. You lost. And it was in the same lackluster fashion. Bobby Crosby posting a double play in a critical situation, and ending the game with a weak grounder to the 3rd to close it out.

The A's of recent years built their reputation around getting on base, taking pitches and wearing out opposing pitchers, but the team didn't get a base on balls until there were already two out in the ninth. They did, however, manage to again rack up a good number of strikeouts, posting 7, thanks to James Shields keeping batters unsteady. The lack of runners on base meant that when the A's did hit home runs, they were solo shots, and Shields was strong enough to enter the 9th inning before giving way to Percival. That's not how you wear a guy out. But it's how you wear me out.

And despite my best intentions, Brooks Conrad has extended his hitless streak to 10 at bats to start off his MLB career, racking up 2 more K's for a total of 5. Sorry dude, that's not even a tease.

The A's have tomorrow off and resume teasing us Friday against Texas at 7:05 PM. Maybe the roster will be unchanged. Maybe not. There's my tease for you.

0 recs | Comment 206 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I love Billy Beane

But is it time to consider that Billy/Money Ball has run its course and we aren’t fooling anyone any longer?

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 12:33 PM PDT   0 recs

A GM

with a different view on hitters. Aggressive hitters, game changers… we just don’t have any threats. Nobody is scared of the A’s coming to town except the A’s, who are scared of who will get traded next for a bunch of prospects with a good eye for keeping the bat on their shoulder.

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 12:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I dont really know any longer

Everyone comes to the plate and they are the same hitter. Even when our power (Cust) hits a HR it is a surprise. I’m not saying its easy to hit MLB pitching, but how many of us really sit there are know that a player can be clutch during a game. In a scoring situation, I bet the VAST majority of us fans are praying for them to NOT do what they usually do, like GIDP, rather than hoping for them to do something that most other teams could do, like get a hit with RISP.

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 12:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm wondering if this is a troll account

You’ve somehow managed to hit every “ridiculous criticism of sabr-philosophy” button in the space of three posts.

I smell a rat.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 1:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You are, however,

as you’ve freely admitted, conspiratorially-minded. And skittish. And easily distracted by shiny objects….wait, that’s me, isn’t it?

....never mind.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 2:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ohhhh shiny!!!

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jul 23, 2008 7:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Where?! WHERE?!

Imagine waking up at 2 a,m. and thinking of Bobby on Greyhound somewhere in the Texas wastelands..."Does your little iddy biddy back hurt, Bobby?! Does it, you SOB?!" -Alox

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 8:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Relax dude

Im just frustrated

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 3:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

okay, here’s the deal:

Ellis/Cust for a PE coach, an orange level terror alert, and the corpse of Hitler.

oh, did you say hitter? well, the smell is aggressive.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 12:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

Forget the polliwog, bric-a-brac, fly the the seat of your begonia’s barrel roll of sassafras. Put on the gumption and snizzle the wicks.

Applesauce.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 12:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Billy has just failed for a few years now to field a team with average

hitters. The hitting on this team is just horrendous. When your biggest threat in the lineup is Jack Cust, that’s just pretty sad . . .

by oaktownmario on Jul 23, 2008 12:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

and here I was thinking of changing my sig.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 12:36 PM PDT   0 recs

I know we are "rebuilding",

but I swear, I wouldn’t be disappointed to see Beane start clearing house. Motivation as it were. And I don’t mean dealing pieces that contribute. Just start shedding dead weight.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jul 23, 2008 12:40 PM PDT   0 recs

wouldn't that mean a contract for Ellis?

This is my pet peeve with ownership – why not reward the players who are successful at what you’ve asked them to do? When are you going to reward a player for his performance, rather than what you’ll think he’s gonna do? (i.e. Chavez, Crosby, Street, Barton, Buck even) ?

Chavez is the only guy the A’s have spent long-term on, and he’s not even the damn team captain.

My favorite part of this game was hearing about Geren getting in the umps face for the Pena HBP. If he’d a gotten tossed, I think we might have won this game on pure adrenaline.

But there’s no stat for adrenaline, is there?

[/frustation]

Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"

by popcornjames on Jul 23, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

w.o.w.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 1:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not into online gaming

Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"

by popcornjames on Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

day games, dude

Who needs competence as long as everyone smiles? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

don't eff with the Jesus man!

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 2:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

right, right. I gotta keep telling myself that.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 2:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

did I say something wrong?

Does this have to do with general venting in specific subject threads?

throw me a bone, I dunno what yall are talkin bout

Bob Geren, on 8/2/07, on the success of Alan Embree as new interim closer: "What can I say,... he's been our Steady Tremendous Bullpen Man"

by popcornjames on Jul 23, 2008 2:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This road trip effectively

seals the A’s this season, I think. If we could’ve come home, even at 4-2, we could probably have convinced the FO to be buyers, not sellers. But I think the 1-5 pretty much seals the deal.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 12:41 PM PDT   0 recs

The FO gave up a while ago.

If they weren’t convinced by how well the A’s performed before the Harden trade, nothing was going to convince them. They might have done the same if they were tied for first.

"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico

by jeepers on Jul 23, 2008 8:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

brooks conrad - the un-ziggy?

wishing mr. “heart of darkness” conrad the best of luck in not setting an AL record of hitless ABs to start a career..

Hi ho.

by danh on Jul 23, 2008 12:42 PM PDT   0 recs

Could be worse

Check out the Royals today.

Might as well Jump! - Van Halen

by sprtsnwyn on Jul 23, 2008 12:45 PM PDT   0 recs

Ahem.

Not that I think anyone will (or should) pay attention, but, if I may say so, the A’s are not this bad. We’re watching what will probably be the worst stretch of the season, but it won’t last.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 12:49 PM PDT   0 recs

Agreed.

But that doesn’t mean that the FO won’t use it as impetus to completely go into rebuilding mode.

We’ve got a lot of talent on the field right now.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 12:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't agree that there is that much talent.

Several guys are young but not good (Hannahan, Conrad, Bankston).

I love Gonzalez, R. Sweeney and Suzuki they have talent. Add in a few other guys and we have a very good team. (unfortunately those guys are on the DL)

by Yellowhorse on Jul 23, 2008 12:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hannahan and Conrad are older than average for this team

They are “young” only in the service-time sense.

And while I like Hannahan as a guy, and like his story, and recognize that he’s gritty and competitive and all that jazz, the one thing that he clearly lacks is actual baseball talent. There’s a reason why you hear Josh Hamilton’s story over and over again in the national media while Hannahan’s (basically identical) story might have gotten a once-over three years ago—and it has absolutely nothing to do with the moral character of either of them.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 1:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Are you saying

(gasp!)

that the media might be every bit as guilty of falling in love with the stories of atheletes that only perform well?! Surely, no one is that crass.

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 2:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Shocking, isn't it?

You might almost think the media were cynical.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 5:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

And Yellowhorse

What the heck always happens to your posts? Why is there a block quote of your text that kinda leads off to nowhere?

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 2:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree

So many good hitters are injured and we faced some very good pitchers.

Also, Ellis, Street and Crosby have really performed miserably. Perhaps, the trade rumors/ trades are impacting their game.

If we had decent play from them then we are probably 4-4 over last 8 games.

by Yellowhorse on Jul 23, 2008 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

a loss perhaps, but some good things too..

1. Number of saves that Huston Street blew today: Zero!
2. The Duke: still an A
3. Not starting in center field: Charles Thomas
4. No post game wrap with Ken Macha
5. No Ken Macha commercials for On Demand Golf Tips From the Pros either
6. Terance Long/Ricardo Rincon
7. One day closer to January 20, 2009
8. Marketing Dept closer to going back to the future with new/old “They’re young, but they can play!”
9. A’s still have room in budget for mowing outfield grass AND infield grass
10. At least you’re not a Giants fan

Hi ho.

by danh on Jul 23, 2008 12:51 PM PDT   0 recs

See, #10 is what I am talking about

Look at Bowker – comes out of nowhere and has a 269/9/39. Not killer but a legit threat at the plate. We don’t have anyone capable of that.

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 12:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

fiduglasjhbgalskfjg;aisugiurw

you want Bowker? lolcakes.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 12:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I didnt say I want him

I said I want players with his level of aggression – and he isn’t even that aggressive.

I miss Eric Plunk

by chuckcheeze on Jul 23, 2008 1:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

how about people that actually contribute to run scoring?

sigh.

The 2009 A's draft pick... getting higher every game.

by rebus on Jul 23, 2008 1:02 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Beane should sign Mike Tyson

Who needs competence as long as everyone smiles? @('.')@

by monkeyball on Jul 23, 2008 1:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

bite me

alaska A

by ak_A on Jul 23, 2008 1:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Mmm... ear.

Tasty!

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jul 23, 2008 7:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well then!

Now that is looking on the bright side of life! I like it!

"He's day-to-day," Geren said. "But aren't we all?" - 5/29/08

by BobbyCrosbysGirl on Jul 23, 2008 2:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Only if Obama changes his name to Mr. McCain! WooHoo!

Because Brian Sabean just signed John McCain to a 3 yr contract.

Hi ho.

by danh on Jul 23, 2008 11:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I am so praying for a mass exodus in trades and DFA's

Then we can watch what is left play and gain experience for next year.

I am not bitter about this season because they gave us a good first half and played way over their heads considering the injuries etc.

Anyone with a brain knows this team has an exciting future on the pitching front but we need some big bats and bats that go up there swinging. Big bats cost big money so the question is, how do we get them?

I am not Nostradamus but I think Ellis will be gone due to recent trades and I don’t even think he will keep Duke. (I would like to see them keep both)

Crosby and Street need to be gone like last year.

The others (who are not performing) who are not worth much, need not be mentioned due to being mentioned a million times in other posts.

ST next year should be very interesting.

All I would like to see this year is Frank and Sweeney Sr. get back and we score some more runs and play hard and beat the Angels just because we hate them.

Oh and one final thing, K-Rod viewing a 3,000 mph line drive missile coming right back at him.

Go A’s

by Trainman on Jul 23, 2008 12:57 PM PDT   0 recs

Chavez & Crosby

are sunk costs. The quicker the A’s are able to replace them the better.

The A’s would be thriving with a league average offense filled with Ethier types. This isn’t asking for the moon out of Beane & Forst,

These guys are unwatchable and my guess is that there will be crickets heard in Mt Davis in August & September.

by DKNJ on Jul 23, 2008 1:00 PM PDT   0 recs

Who would want them?

Chavez is apparently taking the year off – and why a better alternative than Hannahan wasn’t obtained in these many trades I have no idea – and Crosby doesn’t have the kind of glove to make his weak offense attractive to anyone.

I’m trying to decide if last year’s team was duller than this group of misfits, and I’m close to saying no.

by coffee roaster on Jul 23, 2008 1:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A better alternative than Hannahan was obtained

...for 2010/2011.

When, you know, Chavez’s contract actually expires.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 1:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why does his contract need to be expired for a better alternative to Hannahan?

Chavez is a non-entity on this team. Anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 1:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Who did you want them to get prior to 2007?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 4:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Prior to three surgeries?

It didn’t really seem to be as serious of an issue as it is now, did it?

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 4:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

OK so who should they have gotten in before this season?

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 4:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well he was the Dodger 3B. Then he need surgery.

First he would have been too expensive. Then he would have been a massive risk. Now he may be just right.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 6:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That would have been a bad trade for both teams.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 6:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Blanton sucked and LaRoche got hurt

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 7:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 8:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whats the Deal with Chavez anyways?

Its been a long time with no info. He was supposed to take 2 weeks off then go on rehab. That wasover 3 weeks ago.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Jul 23, 2008 1:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Isn't he considering more surgery?

That was the last update on him I read.

by coffee roaster on Jul 23, 2008 1:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I thought after a 2 week rest we was gonna go to AAA

and see how he felt then decide.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Jul 23, 2008 1:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's what is so funny about Chavez.

Everybody keeps talking about “When Chavez is back” as if he’s going to actually be back any time soon.

Then, everybody assumes that he’ll be back, and 100%, and performing like it’s 2004 all over again. He’s just not going to.

by mikev on Jul 23, 2008 1:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I believe he could be good if he was healthy.

But yeah your right. Hes just not gonna be healthy.

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Jul 23, 2008 1:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I believe he could be good if he was healthy.

But yeah your right. Hes just not gonna be healthy.

by DFAMarkKotsay on Nov 11, 2007 11:11 AM PDT

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 1:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow, man,

I took too much….I’ve got like, terminal deja vu….

I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 23, 2008 2:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So what your trying to say is

we should get a good bullpen arm for him?

"With 16-year-old Dominican righty Michel Inoa in tow, Gio Gonzalez improving at Triple-A and lefty Brett Anderson carving up Double-Abatters along with Simmons and Trevor Cahill, Oakland’s pitching depthis officially the envy of baseball." - BaseballAmerica.com

by Syphon on Jul 23, 2008 2:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's not inconceivable he'll be healthy enough to play by next spring.

Crede basically did that.

When you have a chance to get a guy like Sean Gallagher, you take it!

by WaddellCanseco on Jul 23, 2008 4:25 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Crede and Kotsay had very similar issues

and took a long time to be ready to play again.

I don’t understand why everyone around here is so f’ing impatient sometimes.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 23, 2008 4:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The meta-answer would be

the attitude’s the result of living in a consumerist society, which grows increasingly intolerant of anything taking any time at all. But…that’s only my opinion and leads down a road of discussion we probably don’t want to engage in this particular forum, nor does it have anything to do with Chavez and his ailments, except possibly tangentially: a path I enjoy immensely, but annoys others. You, among them.

Imagine waking up at 2 a,m. and thinking of Bobby on Greyhound somewhere in the Texas wastelands..."Does your little iddy biddy back hurt, Bobby?! Does it, you SOB?!" -Al