A’s vs Brett + some A’s updates ← FREE KRAUT!

A’s vs Brett + some A’s updates 341

The A’s will attempt to make Brett Anderson stumble awkwardly around the mound today with this lineup

 

Also some highlights from Slusser’s drumbeat today, as Ed posted in the other thread:
-Norris has back issues (day to day)
-Fernando Rodriguez (some of you may remember him as the second piece we got in the Lowrie trade) is looking good
-Gentry may start season on DL (Fuld likely replacement)

And from a Slusser tweet yesterday, she seems pretty convinced that Barton is going to make the roster. His spring performance certainly isn’t hurting (.500 no Ks 4 BBs)

Ken and Vince on the radio today. Just a little over 3 weeks left of this ST business.

341 thoughts on “A’s vs Brett + some A’s updates

  1. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:10 pm

    fosse is all over andersaon. keeps making “can’t stay healthy joke”

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  2. lenscrafters Mar 8,2014 12:14 pm

    Freiman RBI triple

    • Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:15 pm || Up

      its hilarious to FOsse that Frieman is tall

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  3. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:15 pm

    Frieman triples machine

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  4. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:27 pm

    double to tulawiski is excusable, but a double to “paulson” is probably as concerning as a triple to Frieman

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  5. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:29 pm

    I chalk up that hit to “working on something”

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  6. lenscrafters Mar 8,2014 12:30 pm

    Griffin getting knocked around. 3-1 Rox.

    Too bad this game isn’t being broadcasted on TV — I really only want to see Russell.

  7. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:40 pm

    Giminez replaces barton?

    odd

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • colin Mar 8,2014 1:25 pm || Up

      Jane Lee said on twitter that Barton fouled a ball off his foot and then left the game.

  8. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:42 pm

    barton would have played that right

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Future Ed Mar 8,2014 12:43 pm || Up

      barton would have turned two

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  9. Future Ed Mar 8,2014 1:36 pm

    is anyone else concerned with this punto batting 2nd fetish

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  10. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 4:36 pm

    Mr. and Mrs. Milessa Muchmore Lowrie are apparently quite the accomplished, globe-trotting couple. That fine Stanford polishing.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • colin Mar 8,2014 5:46 pm || Up

      Who the hell spells Milessa like that?

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 6:06 pm || Up

        Maybe dyslexia runs in the Muchmore bloodlines.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Jennifer Mar 8,2014 7:07 pm || Up

        Mychael Urbyn’s family.

      • Englishmajor Mar 9,2014 7:29 pm || Up

        Milessa Muchmore sounds like a Dickens character, but when coupled with the info that she worked for the “State Department” as a “diplomat”……hmmm.

        • Future Ed Mar 9,2014 7:32 pm || Up

          bond love interest in On her Majesty’s secret service.

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • dmoas Mar 10,2014 10:10 am || Up

            No, that would be “Munchmore”

            • AV Mar 10,2014 10:16 am || Up

              mmmmm… munch more milanesa.

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • colin Mar 10,2014 5:34 am || Up

          I’ve shared this story before, but I met Milessa’s mother over breakfast at a B&B in Brookline, MA. This was many years ago (2008?), back when Lowrie was still with the Red Sox (and injured, of course). Milessa was getting a masters in international relations from Princeton at the time. Also, I think she played volleyball at Stanford.

  11. nevermoor Mar 8,2014 7:21 pm

    Ok FKing food folks. I just discovered something (likely old hat to many of you) but holy crap it’s good.

    Seared fish (in my case blackened Ahi): Heat EVOO till water drops sizzle, then add a meaningful amount of butter. It melts and browns immediately. Then slide your seasoned fish in for a couple minutes a side to sear.

    The butter thing blew my mind a little bit. Butter/EVOO combo made such a huge difference.

    "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • DFA Mar 9,2014 8:29 am || Up

      Basically the Olive Oil raises the smoke point sso that you can impart butter flavor without burning the butter.

      I had a Jerk Yellowtail Collar last night at a James Beard nominated restaurant courtesy of the ladyfriend, and holy hell it was good.

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:42 pm || Up

        I wonder if it would work even better with coconut oil then.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • DFA Mar 10,2014 8:23 am || Up

          You would have to want the flavor of coconut oil and I think coconut oil and butter have the same smoke point

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
          • colin Mar 10,2014 8:36 am || Up

            Looks like coconut oil has a higher smoke point than butter, but not as high as olive oil.

            • DFA Mar 10,2014 12:26 pm || Up

              thats different than the list I was looking at. but im not that surprised

              In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
              • nevermoor Mar 11,2014 10:12 pm || Up

                I am, I thought it was better for high heat than EVOO

                "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • nevermoor Mar 11,2014 10:14 pm || Up

                  Wait… that has Coconut oil as 450 and EVOO as 405.

                  Also, maybe I should just go straight to Ghee.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • colin Mar 12,2014 5:27 am || Up

                  Virgin coconut oil at 350 though. My take away from that table is that the difference between refined and unrefined oils is bigger than the difference between oil types.

                • dmoas Mar 12,2014 8:51 am || Up

                  I prefer my coconut oil to have a little more experience. I don’t want to have to teach it what to do.

  12. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 8:44 pm

    Potential for huge entertainment in the Canelo vs Angulo fight starting soon. Both guys have right-at-you styles and throw serious bombs. Info/streams here.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 10:07 pm || Up

      Canelo gets a stoppage win in the ninth round after an entertaining, but not very close fight. Fans and Angulo pissed at the ref for stopping it; he was eating massive punches but not in imminent danger. Incredible chin. Would’ve been nice to see him have the chance for a desperate knockout win.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  13. witchy Mar 8,2014 8:45 pm

    how many more days until i see you people?

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 8:51 pm || Up

      Three weeks from this Monday, if not sooner!

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • witchy Mar 8,2014 8:53 pm || Up

        i can’t wait that long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        • Future Ed Mar 8,2014 9:32 pm || Up

          opening day is a holiday. as it should be

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • witchy Mar 8,2014 9:33 pm || Up

            hell to the yes.

          • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 10:00 pm || Up

            First day of spring break for my kids. Not sure yet if I’ll work a half day or none.

            "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
            • witchy Mar 8,2014 10:03 pm || Up

              none. obv.

            • Future Ed Mar 8,2014 10:11 pm || Up

              Cesar Chavez day

              I have $5. No I don\'t.
              • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 8,2014 10:13 pm || Up

                Not a holiday for me, weirdly but true.

                "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • ptbnl Mar 9,2014 1:24 am || Up

        Three weeks from brew-day, itself pushed back 24 hours so I can have some weekend family time after flying home today.

        One of my colleagues who doesn’t fly much refused on principle to be my guest on my flight benefits (much shorter check-in and security lines, open breakfast buffet in the lounge, first boarding group on a plane with tiny overhead bins) which made me reflect on quite how much privilege I’ve come to accept – and cherish – once you put me in a tin can at 35,000 feet.

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • Future Ed Mar 9,2014 10:04 am || Up

          good for him/her. but, yeah, what FSU says

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • DFA Mar 9,2014 2:28 pm || Up

          I have no problem with companies extending benefits to their best customers but I think that preferred airline customers getting to have shorter lines in security is straight anti American/the government only works for the rich bullshit. Security services are not provided by the airline they are provided by the taxpayer to keep all of you jetsetters in the sky and us on the ground safe. If airport security is really about national security, then rich people who fly all the time should wait in the exact same line as the rest of us. If it isn’t an important for national security I would like the 70% of the 7.5bn that comes from taxpayers and the airlines can run things.

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
          • ptbnl Mar 9,2014 4:32 pm || Up

            Global Entry is another interesting one – for a fee you get to skip the immigration line, but for US citizens this also involves submitting yourself to the same kind of security scanning/tracking (photos and fingerprints) as us foreigners are routinely subjected to.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
            • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:44 pm || Up

              I understand the objection (and don’t do it myself) but I get the logic. And it’s part of a broader program (primarily for international truckers IIRC) that isn’t rich-only

              "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  14. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 9:25 am

    I have a tough time planting my flag behind the principle that companies shouldn’t extend privileges to their best customers. Especially if it gets me a free buffet.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:44 pm || Up

      Totally agree.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  15. lenscrafters Mar 9,2014 1:30 pm

    Ken and Ray’s insistence on rehashing Game 4 every broadcast is really getting irritating.

    • Soaker Mar 9,2014 1:50 pm || Up

      Along those lines, who made the decision to devote five full pages of “Holy Toledo” to the full transcript of Bill’s call of That Which Shall Not Be Mentioned, in 16-point type no less? I was sitting on the beach reading when I got to that part and the book just about went in the ocean.

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:02 pm || Up

        I’m about two-thirds through, haven’t reached that spot yet, thanks for the warning I’ll skip through.

        I’m enjoying all of the Bill stories, learning more about his wife and life in Sausalito, and especially his Warriors years and their 1975 title. Korach’s writing in between the stories is a little basic, though.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • Future Ed Mar 9,2014 4:32 pm || Up

          FSU said for this blog.

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Soaker Mar 9,2014 4:34 pm || Up

            Yeah, that exact point drove me nuts. Either the editor anally insisted on that, or the editor was negligent in failing to delete it from Korach’s writing.

            What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  16. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:31 pm

    Deep home run to dead center by Donaldson.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • brian.only Mar 9,2014 2:34 pm || Up

      Good sign. How are ya feeling today?

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:38 pm || Up

        Good! No new injuries this week!

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  17. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:38 pm

    Cespedes misplays a routine fly for second time today.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  18. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:41 pm

    Straily 3.1, Abad 0.2, Johnson 1.0 scoreless innings thus far, now Tommy Milone in.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  19. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 2:44 pm

    “Spring break around the corner, crowds promise to grow a few more.”

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  20. brian.only Mar 9,2014 3:03 pm

    Oakland B’s in.

  21. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 3:26 pm
    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:45 pm || Up

      Twain didn’t say that.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:45 pm || Up
        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 8:35 pm || Up

      Rumors of my accuracy have been greatly exaggerated.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  22. Soaker Mar 9,2014 3:28 pm

    Jake Elmore reminds me too much of Jake Fox. I saw a lot of Fox in spring training that one season. I thought, there’s no way Billy would have acquired a player who’s as terrible as this guy looks, he’s just off to a horribly bad start in the early Cactus League games. Alas, as we found out in the regular season…

    What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • MikeV Mar 9,2014 3:44 pm || Up

      wasnt elmore a waiver claim though

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 5:30 pm || Up

      But he’s the most talented guy on the team! And apparently that’s saying a lot.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • nevermoor Mar 9,2014 7:46 pm || Up

        I guess Coco didn’t dance in it.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • Englishmajor Mar 9,2014 10:02 pm || Up

          The veterans were allowed to buy their way out of the talent show for $100.

          • nevermoor Mar 10,2014 12:14 am || Up

            Sure, but not required.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • Jennifer Mar 10,2014 8:29 am || Up

          He was a judge.

  23. Soaker Mar 9,2014 3:47 pm

    So the weekday MLB.com broadcasts really are Donnycasts. I could tell when the A’s played the D’Backs the other day that he seemed to know a lot about the Arizona organization, and that explains it.

    What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  24. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 9,2014 8:49 pm

    If anyone wants in to an NCAA pool let me know. I’ve run one for a group of friends for many years, our critical mass is ebbing and we’ve decided we need some new blood (sound familiar?).

    $20, one bracket per person, scoring weighted to late rounds (3/5/7/10/15/20).

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  25. vignette17 Mar 9,2014 10:00 pm

    So did/does anybody else watch True Detective? Its season finale was tonight and I thought the season was ultimately very well done and satisfying. Definitely would recommend.

    • elcroata Mar 10,2014 12:09 am || Up

      I do. However, I have to wait until Thursday to get the episode on my provider here. I loved it.

      Because survival is insufficient
    • colin Mar 10,2014 5:42 am || Up

      Yeah, I finished watching last night and enjoyed it.

      I don’t really understand why people are disappointed with the ending, and why they had tons of crazy theories about the show in the first place. It seemed pretty clear to me the whole time that the show was operating within pretty standard conventions for hard-boiled detective genre. Even something as simple as unmasking the larger group of killers and taking down the governor would have provided too much closure for the dark / gritty vibe of the show. I guess they could have had the finale end with Marty getting a glimpse of unknowable horror and cracking mentally ala Rust, but I never had the feeling that they were going in that direction.

      • vignette17 Mar 10,2014 12:45 pm || Up

        Yeah, any shock reveal would have spoiled the whole season’s character development. Color me a little surprised neither detective died though.

        McConaughey has got to be a shoe-in for the Emmy, right? Has anyone won the Emmy/Oscar for best actor in the same year? Has anyone won both Best Actor/Actress awards, period?

        • dmoas Mar 10,2014 12:51 pm || Up

          He wouldn’t be nominated this year for an Emmy, that would be for next year, no?

        • colin Mar 10,2014 1:06 pm || Up

          For some reason, it seemed like lots of people were expecting a shock reveal, and I just don’t understand why. My wife tells me that the show creator gave some interviews about how it was going to blow people’s minds or whatever, so maybe that’s what was driving it.

          • vignette17 Mar 10,2014 2:54 pm || Up

            There certainly were a lot of hints that Audrey, Woody Harrelson’s daughter, knew of it (the dolls, the drawings, etc). That’s the big Chekhov’s gun that was never fired.

            • colin Mar 10,2014 6:07 pm || Up

              My wife definitely picked up on that thread, but I sort of missed it.

              • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 8:00 pm || Up

                are you guys talking about me? what’s with the secrets.

                I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • colin Mar 10,2014 1:08 pm || Up

      I am fully on board with feminist critiques of the show. The female characters were all pretty ridiculous. I’m willing to cut them some slack, since it is pretty standard for that genre, but it would have been great if the show had broken out of it.

      • Kay Mar 10,2014 3:27 pm || Up

        I think the female characters are supposed to be kinda ridiculous because it helps to more clearly illustrate the hypocrisies inherent in how the male leads treat the women in their lives, and the how the standards they hold themselves up to easily melt in the face of sexual temptation.

        Then again, I’m only reading about the show, not watching it, so I could very well be wrong.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
        • colin Mar 10,2014 6:09 pm || Up

          The two girls that Woody Harrelson has affairs with are both pretty damn porny.

          • Glorious Mundy Mar 17,2014 3:43 pm || Up

            I’ve only seen the first affair, and I would say less porny than uncomfortably and implausibly hot.

            • colin Mar 18,2014 9:20 am || Up

              I was mostly thinking of a phone call he has with the second affair girl.

      • vignette17 Mar 11,2014 9:42 am || Up

        There wasn’t a ton of character development in any of the female characters (except for perhaps the wife), but the men in the series are pretty damn flawed as well.

    • Glorious Mundy Mar 17,2014 3:15 pm || Up

      I’m only two episodes in, but really digging it. It moves kind of slowly, plotwise, but McConaughey is off the charts good, and the cinematography is just amazing.

      • colin Mar 18,2014 9:32 am || Up

        I really enjoyed the scenery (talking about the photography and landscapes, not the boobs. Honest!)

        • Glorious Mundy Mar 18,2014 12:09 pm || Up

          I for one enjoy all of the various types of scenery the show has to offer.

  26. colin Mar 10,2014 5:54 am

    There are a few FK commenters who I can identify just by their pattern in the unread comments widget. The most obvious of course is bed, who shows up and suddenly there are 400 new comments in a lounge. But it’s also pretty easy to identify harensheir, by a sprinkle of new comments across the last three months of posts.

    • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 10,2014 9:27 am || Up

      Heh, I was noticing that too. HH, how do you keep track of all those threads? I barely remember what I was talking about last week, let alone three months ago.

      • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 10,2014 9:28 am || Up

        I eagerly await your July reply

      • harensheir15 Mar 11,2014 11:56 pm || Up

        My participation in online communities has always been nocturnal for the most part. So even when I’m not away for long stretches, I’m still not here when most you guys are actively posting. The system for catching up that works for me involves differentiating the comments in one of four categories: stuff I’m indifferent or neutral toward or actively want to avoid; stuff that is interesting, informative or amusing but I don’t necessarily have a response for (this is the largest group comments on FK); stuff that is interesting, informative or amusing that does evoke a response in the natural flow of a conversation (but I don’t get to because I wasn’t there while it was happening); and finally, stuff that is interesting, informative or amusing AND moves me to respond without regard for that thread’s recent (in)activity.
        Also, sometimes, I just post as I read along after a long absence.

        • ptbnl Mar 12,2014 12:17 am || Up

          So you’d only just read the comments you recently replied to? Or you have a way to mark the last class to come back to later?

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
          • harensheir15 Mar 12,2014 12:28 am || Up

            Some of both.
            I had seen the Newsroom thread before but hadn’t seen the season which was being discussed then. So I came back to it after having seen it.
            (I find that remembering key words helps tremendously in locating the correct search strings.)
            I reacted as I read to the Phillip Seymour Hoffman conversation.

    • harensheir15 Mar 11,2014 11:45 pm || Up

      Heh. Thank you for articulating that distinction. It’s an interesting identity test.

    • harensheir15 Mar 12,2014 12:00 am || Up

      While I’m caught up to real time, I am curious to know your and ptbnl’s thoughts/impressions of Neil Degrasse Tyson’s reboot of Cosmos.

      • ptbnl Mar 12,2014 12:15 am || Up

        I gave at the office.

        Actually I haven’t seen it yet – lots of travel.

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • harensheir15 Mar 12,2014 12:32 am || Up

          Oh, right. Whenever.
          Congratulations on the 20 years, by the way.

      • colin Mar 12,2014 5:33 am || Up

        I enjoyed it. At first I thought that the imaginary spaceship framing was pretty hokey, but it worked out fine. Neil’s personal story about Carl Sagan was great.

        • harensheir15 Mar 14,2014 1:39 am || Up

          Agreed on the story.
          I was also wondering about your professional appraisal of Sagan’s Cosmos and its impact on public awareness of science and astronomy, the necessity of a reboot in terms of new developments, and the “worthyness” of Neil Degrasse Tyson as the torch-bearer etc.

          • batgirl Mar 14,2014 10:33 am || Up

            I’ve been wondering this exact same thing!

          • colin Mar 18,2014 9:31 am || Up

            Cosmology in particular has had a ton of development since the original run of Cosmos — in the early 80s there was very little observational data that could provide any meaningful constraints on cosmology, but it has developed in a very data-driven field over the past ~20 years. That said, a big chunk of the first episode focused on persecution of science and the second episode was all about evolution (with some shouts out to global warning). So that is a completely different angle on the question: is the reboot necessary not because of new science, but rather to push back against anti-science views.

            I don’t really know all the much about Neil Degrasse Tyson’s specific scientific work (probably because my astronomy background is pretty weak), but I think he is well respected professionally and he seems to do a great job of presenting science to the general public.

            • harensheir15 Aug 1,2014 12:14 am || Up

              is the reboot necessary not because of new science, but rather to push back against anti-science views

              So much this.

              Each episode got subsequently depressing for me for this reason. And it occurred to me that the difference between the two versions is the difference between two audiences. It may just be the impact they had on my young mind but Sagan’s lectures are rife with ethos and imagery and greek mythology references. That would be so out of place in the reboot. Not because Neal couldn’t deliver but because he almost seems to be trying to convince viewers who’d rather be entertained than informed. Now here’s another cool special effect we came up with to keep you interested in the narrative.

              I heard an interview with Sagan’s wife. She said that Carl thought that there would be colonies on Mars by now.

        • harensheir15 Mar 14,2014 1:44 am || Up
    • elcroata Mar 17,2014 8:23 am || Up

      Ed is ususally the first one every morning. Something like 3-5 coments around 5 AM is a sign that he made his train…

      Because survival is insufficient
  27. MikeV Mar 10,2014 9:37 am

    So I’m going to Vegas in May to play in a soccer tournament.

    How to get cheap flights?

    Oh, and it’s for two. Not just me.

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • elcroata Mar 10,2014 9:40 am || Up

      A bomb in your shoe?

      Because survival is insufficient
    • Soaker Mar 10,2014 10:01 am || Up

      Presumably you’ll need to check at least one bag for your equipment which makes Southwest’s “bags fly free” your best bet even if the base fare is a little higher. From where you are you might find a lower fare on Allegiant out of Stockton, but I think they even charge you for a carry-on, so make sure you check those add-on fees carefully. (Also somebody here had a real horror story about Allegiant a while back.)

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • doctorK Mar 10,2014 2:27 pm || Up

        And that was me.

        Allegiant is great, as long as you don’t care about when you actually arrive (assuming you actually do).

        • Soaker Mar 10,2014 4:05 pm || Up

          The other cheap-ass airline is Spirit, which advertises their “$9 Fare Club!” But again, read the fine print and you’ll find fees for “extras” such as a carry-on bag (minimum $26 one-way), one checked bag (minimum $21), a “Passenger Usage Charge” (varies between $8.99-$16.99 flight; this is basically the sort of fee Tickets.com or Ticketmaster charges) and an “Unintended Consequences of DOT Regulations Charge” ($2 per flight). You have to add the required fees plus the ones for the features you need to the headlined fare and see which airline is really the cheaper one for you.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  28. elcroata Mar 10,2014 9:41 am

    I know it sucks to link to one’s own writing, especially when it has nothing to do with baseball, but I’d like people to read this one

    Because survival is insufficient
    • Kay Mar 10,2014 10:30 am || Up

      It doesn’t suck when you link to your writing or photo sets. You know we all love when you share with us!

      \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 12:49 pm || Up

      that’s a tough read.

      Great work as always

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 10,2014 1:15 pm || Up

      Very well written

    • ptbnl Mar 10,2014 11:52 pm || Up

      Beautiful.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • MikeV Mar 11,2014 12:13 am || Up

      I may have had a few tonight after putting the boys down to bed (happy 11th, elder V!) so I probably can’t fully process that right now.

      What I can say, though, is that you are gifted with writing. and stat crunching, too — but the writing here was phenomenal.

      Well done, my friend.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • elcroata Mar 11,2014 12:17 am || Up

        Drinking crowd was always my target audience. And very happy 11th to the future Ibra!

        And very much appreciated.

        Because survival is insufficient
        • MikeV Mar 11,2014 12:24 am || Up

          Full side 11v11 for him this year!

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

          • elcroata Mar 11,2014 12:33 am || Up

            Equally incredible and awesome.

            Because survival is insufficient
            • MikeV Mar 11,2014 12:39 am || Up

              It’s funny. Looks like toddlers playing bunchball again, they don’t realize how massive the pitch is.

              I figure sometime around mid may they will realize “Hey, I’ve got 40 yards of space EVERY DIRECTION if I just stay over here on my side…”

              And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

              Thanks, and go As.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 11,2014 8:54 pm || Up

      Wow, man, that’s really good, and thought-provoking.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • harensheir15 Mar 12,2014 1:19 am || Up

      There are no less than five or six little nuggets in here that serve up a feast for thought.
      Thanks, as always, for sharing. It amazes me that English was probably your nth language.

      • elcroata Mar 12,2014 2:17 am || Up

        That’s very kind of you to say. Thanks.

        Because survival is insufficient
      • elcroata Mar 12,2014 3:22 am || Up

        And as for English, I do feel pretty comfortable trying to convey my thoughts in it, but boy do I still totally lack the feel for the articles. Basically, I have a die with two empty sides, two sides with “the” on it and two sides with “a” on it and I just roll it every time I write a noun…

        Because survival is insufficient
        • AV Mar 12,2014 8:32 am || Up

          finally got a chance to finish it (started the other day on FB and had to put it away). i really like where it went, the conclusion.

          the give and take on the —yeah, there are a couple misplaced ones, the title mainly— is that it lends warrant to the voice. not that it’d be inauthentic otherwise, or that we wouldn’t believe the story, but that it sounds like the person who was there is the person telling it. so yeah, you could fix it to say “don’t send bread tomorrow” for grammar but there’s something genuine, maybe even defamiliarizing in a necessary way, about saying it “wrong.”

          in spanish, you could translate it word for word and it’d be fine. el pan. el tiempo. so don’t translate it to spanish because it’ll sound totally fake and disingenuous!! just kidding. it’d stand up to a goya, no problem.

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
          • elcroata Mar 12,2014 8:42 am || Up

            Wow, I nailed the title, too :)

            Interesting take on “voice authenticity”. I like it, if for nothing else, because it is a positive way of thinking. Thanks for reading it and thanks for the tips

            Because survival is insufficient
          • ptbnl Mar 12,2014 8:55 am || Up

            Actually I think the title is right from the context.

            (spoiler alert for anyone foolish enough not to have read the piece yet)

            “Don’t send bread tomorrow”: absent an article this refers to generic bread, and could mean send cheese instead.
            “Don’t send the bread tomorrow”: with the definite article we’re only talking about the smuggled daily bread and the implication that there is no tomorrow is made painfully clear.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
            • AV Mar 12,2014 9:33 am || Up

              i might buy that. i might also argue that “don’t send the bread” is just as easily followed up by “send only the cheese instead” — the ambiguity isn’t solely resting on the article. but today i won’t buy or argue, so i’ll save it for tomorrow.

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • harensheir15 Mar 14,2014 1:49 am || Up

          After about 9th grade, I stopped caring about grammar and just started copying the sentence structure out of stuff I read. It’s taken me farther than I would have thought.

          Your comment brings up another interesting question: do you think in your native language and translate when you express the thoughts? Or is it more of a jumble of languages?

          • elcroata Mar 14,2014 6:49 am || Up

            No. I think in the language that I speak or write at that moment. I dream in the language of wherever things are happening. I don’t really have a dominant language. Sure, Croatian has had the deepest influence and has been a part of me for the longest time, but at the same time it is almost 20 years now that I use it very sporadically. Most notable (partial) exception is calculating, as in adding numbers on a certain list. If tired, I might slip out of the language I was in in that moment, especially if that language is German (due to it counting ones ahead of tens). An expression not belonging to the language I am currently using might slip in from time to time, but I am very conscious about not mixing languages, because I very much dislike people talking five words in one language and then five words in another. This leads to ridiculous situations where I correct my wife (who is Spanish and we speak Spanish at home) and replace her German expressions with proper Spanish ones.

            Because survival is insufficient
  29. Future Ed Mar 10,2014 1:31 pm

    judging from the score, parker not doing so well.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • colin Mar 10,2014 1:32 pm || Up

      That sounds familiar.

    • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 1:33 pm || Up

      Home runs to Eithier (3 Run) and Uribe

      1 inning 3 hits one walk one K

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 1:39 pm || Up

        still in.

        One pitch one out to “peterovich” now he gets the pitcher

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 1:51 pm || Up

          7 straight by parker. not bad. Hope he was working on things in the first.

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 2:04 pm || Up

        uribe’s looked like a shitty curveball

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Future Ed Mar 10,2014 2:04 pm || Up

          and another for a basehit up the middle

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • 5Aces Mar 10,2014 2:27 pm || Up

      Can someone please go change his calendar and tell him it is May already?

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • andeux Mar 10,2014 2:32 pm || Up

        Apparently the other day Melvin said opening day starter is still up in the air. I really hope it isn’t Parker.

        TINSTAAFK
        • elcroata Mar 10,2014 2:34 pm || Up

          Judging by that, it’s probably our ptbnl

          Because survival is insufficient
  30. Future Ed Mar 10,2014 1:41 pm

    Is the jump throw better? It seems to me that is isn’t

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • AV Mar 10,2014 1:50 pm || Up

      i thought we all agreed to not talk about jeter anymore.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  31. Future Ed Mar 10,2014 2:02 pm

    Charlee Steener seems to think everything hit by the dodgers is going very very far

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Soaker Mar 10,2014 2:57 pm || Up

      Well, he did work with John Sterling for several years on the Yankees’ radio broadcasts. “That ball is HIGH…that ball is FAR…aaaaand Reddick will have a play…no, it’s Sogard making the catch.”

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  32. Glorious Mundy Mar 10,2014 2:51 pm

    Taylor homer off of Ryu
    Donaldson homer off of League

    • Glorious Mundy Mar 10,2014 4:40 pm || Up

      Man, Taylor’s was crushed. Big man’s got some power.

      • MikeV Mar 10,2014 7:59 pm || Up

        I am really, really pulling for the dude. He’s been crushing it this spring too

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

  33. Glorious Mundy Mar 10,2014 4:29 pm

    EVERYONE PANIC

  34. AV Mar 11,2014 9:47 am

    wait a minute. they don’t look ANYTHING like balotelli.

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  35. MikeV Mar 11,2014 12:40 pm

    I guess 95.7 didn’t have enough misogyny.

    Towny is moving to the morning show I guess, Rise Guys are out, and Damon Bruce is coming to afternoons.

    Gross.

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • dmoas Mar 11,2014 12:47 pm || Up

      People still listen to that station?

    • batgirl Mar 11,2014 1:31 pm || Up

      Oh good lord that is disgusting.

    • doctorK Mar 11,2014 3:53 pm || Up

      If this means more of Lick Spittle, then I’ll be listening to this station only during games.

    • oblique Mar 11,2014 10:38 pm || Up

      Huh. I actually liked listening to the Rise Guys. They kept my mornings dorky.

      • Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 11:47 am || Up

        Same. They did a lot of cheesy stuff, but they are professional radio broadcasters who know how to work a bit and think on the air. I cannot say the same thing about Ric Bucher, sadly.

      • doctorK Mar 12,2014 4:45 pm || Up

        This was pretty much the only non-game-broadcast programming I’d listen to on that station.

    • Glorious Mundy Mar 14,2014 12:34 pm || Up
      • DFA Mar 14,2014 4:03 pm || Up

        lowell cohn is not someone I am want to agree with… but i cant help but agree at this point

        In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
  36. Future Ed Mar 11,2014 2:01 pm

    I could listen to these SD guys all season. not bad.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • dmoas Mar 11,2014 2:24 pm || Up

      I think you would get tired of them speaking when you tried to go to sleep.

  37. Future Ed Mar 11,2014 2:32 pm

    so, our season nightmares happened this inning. Looping basehit to right, ball in dirt gets passed Jaso. Groundball under callaspo’s glove at third, run scored

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  38. Future Ed Mar 11,2014 2:46 pm

    Abad and moss just F-ed up a play at first

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  39. Future Ed Mar 11,2014 2:56 pm

    Nakajima sighting

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Soaker Mar 11,2014 3:01 pm || Up

      He provides solid veteran leadership for the River Cats, and between him and Barton the guys up from AA will get some great suggestions as to Sacramento’s better restaurants and night spots (if Sacramento actually has any “night spots”).

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  40. Future Ed Mar 11,2014 3:11 pm

    Humber being humber. Gives up 3 run HR

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  41. AV Mar 11,2014 4:35 pm

    fuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

    the bus is dead. (long live the bus.)

    actually, it’s a schwinn cruiser 5 long frame. but it was slow and heavy and took me to work and A’s games, and thus, the bus. cracked the seat tube clean through, just above the bottom bracket. anyway, what i’m asking is, anybody know a welder?

    here it is, at last year’s opening day. (notice the lack of other bikes. THE BUS IS THE BEST AND POSSIBLY ONLY TWO-WHEELED A’s FAN!!!)

    i has a sad.

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 11,2014 6:11 pm || Up

      The Bus was Tejada’s nickname as a kid prospect in the DR. “Miggi Gua-Gua,” because the first day at camp he wore a garish outfit the same colors as the local transit bus locally known the Gua-Gua. Or so I seem to remember the story.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • AV Mar 11,2014 7:06 pm || Up

        makes sense.

        washington, walton and company were the first buses imported to cuba. the logo just said “wa, wa & co.” wawa became guagua the same way that sanguich = sandwich and guisqui = wisky. the term guagua then spread around the islands. even as packed as they get, seems buses in spanish have more names than passengers.

        (* i didn’t want to confuse you with the correct spelling, sangüich and güisqui.)

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • Future Ed Mar 11,2014 8:05 pm || Up

          I love chicken buses and their horribly ignored maximum pupil capacity.

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • elcroata Mar 11,2014 10:21 pm || Up

          You probably know of Papa Quinegua. In canarias, the brand of frozen French fries you could buy was “King Edward”. So it was a short jump from “patatas King Edward” to papa quinegua.

          Because survival is insufficient
          • Future Ed Mar 12,2014 5:40 am || Up

            the once and future quinegua

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • AV Mar 12,2014 8:44 am || Up

            didn’t know that one.

            i’d say, “those funny cultures, changing names they can’t pronounce,” if i weren’t so busy eating beebeecue and succotash.

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • AV Apr 12,2014 1:14 pm || Up

      wow do i stand sit on the saddle corrected. check out this two-wheeled A’s fan:

      we do have in common the true athleticâ„¢ cracked frame problems.

      (belongs to a guy i don’t know from the EBBP FB group.)

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • ptbnl Apr 12,2014 2:28 pm || Up

        Did you ever find a welder? I know one who does my kegs.

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • AV Apr 12,2014 2:35 pm || Up

          nah. i’m just looking for a new frame.

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  42. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 11,2014 6:02 pm

    So, the Malaysian military seems kinda sketchy to me.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Jennifer Mar 11,2014 6:15 pm || Up

      WHERE THE FUCK IS THAT PLANE?!?!

      • dmoas Mar 11,2014 6:41 pm || Up

        On an island.

        • 5Aces Mar 11,2014 6:50 pm || Up

          near the Black Rock.

          Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
        • Jennifer Mar 11,2014 7:13 pm || Up

          That would be a great television show! I’d watch it, at least until it goes to shit. I’m guessing around the third season.

        • Jennifer Mar 11,2014 8:31 pm || Up
  43. AV Mar 11,2014 6:53 pm
    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • Future Ed Mar 11,2014 8:05 pm || Up

      is this a carlin link?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 11,2014 8:12 pm || Up

        “In baseball, everything starts with the pitch. But in soccer, everything starts on the pitch. Oh, wait.”

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Future Ed Mar 11,2014 8:24 pm || Up

      my kids play soccer on asphalt everyday.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • elcroata Mar 11,2014 10:24 pm || Up

        So did I. The building where I grew up had metal garage doors below the apartments and we played using this as a goal. Every time we would score, though, the neighbor from the first floor would throw freezing water on us, because the noise molested her husband, who was a taxi driver, worked nights and slept during the days.

        Because survival is insufficient
    • elcroata Mar 11,2014 10:25 pm || Up

      I know the struggle the other way around.

      Because survival is insufficient
  44. Future Ed Mar 12,2014 7:01 am
    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • elcroata Mar 12,2014 8:08 am || Up

      I am waiting for the day where he will argue both sides of the same call, alternating between pouting and sulking with each call reversal.

      Because survival is insufficient
  45. lenscrafters Mar 12,2014 11:50 am

    Slussbeat

    It sounds as if the A’s are planning to use Drew Pomeranz more as a lefty reliever than stretching him out. Pomeranz, acquired in the Brett Anderson deal with Colorado, probably will be at Triple-A Sacramento to start the season. Josh Lindblom, on the other hand, will stay stretched out to be a starter, also likely at Sacramento.

    ugh

    • Future Ed Mar 12,2014 12:07 pm || Up

      and of course

      Josh Lindblom, on the other hand, will stay stretched out to be a starter

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  46. Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 12:05 pm

    Yeah, I’m going to need all of these Throwback Thursday buttons.

    • Soaker Mar 12,2014 4:56 pm || Up

      I’m glad Harvey the Mechanical Rabbit is getting his long-overdue recognition.

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 5:02 pm || Up

        a mechanical rabbit with flashing red eyes that popped out of the ground

        That’s some serious nightmare fuel right there.

  47. elcroata Mar 12,2014 12:15 pm

    This must be some kind of record. Ubaldo Jimenez gave up four hits in his start today. Three of them were triples.

    Because survival is insufficient
  48. Future Ed Mar 12,2014 1:46 pm

    Kazmir going through his three innings uneventfully

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  49. Future Ed Mar 12,2014 1:53 pm

    It sounds like cotroneo is on the air too, but they put him in a tin pale.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 2:10 pm || Up

      Royals radio has an actual broadcast of this one. It’s not bad.

  50. Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 2:22 pm

    Norris’ gameday photo is alarming.

  51. Future Ed Mar 12,2014 2:48 pm

    doolittle gives up 2 run hr to Salvador perez

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • PDXAthleticsfan Mar 12,2014 2:54 pm || Up

      and a 1 run HR to Moustakas.

      A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.
  52. Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 3:17 pm

    Renato Nunez sighting

  53. MikeV Mar 12,2014 4:00 pm

    Michael Taylor just keeps hitting

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • Glorious Mundy Mar 12,2014 4:50 pm || Up

      If nothing else, it’s becoming clear that he will make someone else’s team if he doesn’t make the A’s.

      • MikeV Mar 12,2014 7:20 pm || Up

        I’m going to be somewhat bothered if he goes somewhere else and wrecks shop. He deserves a legit shot.

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

        • Soaker Mar 12,2014 7:45 pm || Up

          …and I bet the Astros give him one at some point this season.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
        • harensheir15 Mar 14,2014 2:44 am || Up

          Only one of Taylor and Barton makes the roster, right?

          • Glorious Mundy Mar 14,2014 9:42 am || Up

            They could both make it. I think Barton’s almost sure to be on the roster at this point because the team needs someone who plays good first base defense and isn’t helpless against left-handed pitching.

            Taylor’s only hope of making the opening day roster is to be the guy keeping Gentry’s spot warm while his back heals. Unfortunately, the reports coming out of Pravda Russia Today Slusser have suggested that Fuld is the favorite for that role.

            • MikeV Mar 14,2014 1:03 pm || Up

              Cause if there’s one thing we need, it’s a light hitting retread corner OF and not a guy who could potentially hit for some FKing power.

              And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

              Thanks, and go As.

  54. AV Mar 12,2014 8:11 pm

    how did i miss that we’re 3 months out??

    WE’RE 3 MONTHS OUT EVERYBODY!

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  55. FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 12,2014 10:05 pm

    The Flight 370 saga just keeps getting more bizarre. No sign of the ersatz debris sighted by Chinese satellites, and nowthis crazy shit!

    U.S. investigators suspect that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 stayed in the air for about four hours past the time it reached its last confirmed location, according to two people familiar with the details, raising the possibility that the plane could have flown on for hundreds of additional miles under conditions that remain murky….based on data automatically downloaded and sent to the ground from the Boeing Co. 777’s engines as part of a routine maintenance and monitoring program….At one (US national security) briefing, according to this person, officials were told investigators are actively pursuing the notion that the plane was diverted “with the intention of using it later for another purpose.”

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 13,2014 6:11 pm || Up

        This is the most incredible story ever. Seriously, every time it can’t get more incredible it does. Six days after disappearing and there is at least some possibility that someone pulled off a fucking Ernst Blofeld-level arch-villiany. Insane.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • Soaker Mar 13,2014 9:19 pm || Up

          Remember when the golfer Payne Stewart was killed? Basically there was a sudden decompression on the plane and everybody suffocated. The plane, however, kept flying for a few hours, followed by military jets because it was over land, and finally crashed. In this situation, naturally all the speculation is terrorism or some conspiracy, but it could be as simple as a decompression with failure of the supplemental oxygen system. If a plane is at 37,000 feet, nobody is controlling it and it’s losing 100 feet of altitude per minute for whatever reason, it takes about 4 hours for it to crash.

          But, yeah, interesting story whatever the outcome.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
          • dmoas Mar 14,2014 6:04 am || Up

            That would require both sudden decompression, failure of the oxygen system, and a major power outage all at the same time. Though I suppose the sudden decompression could have been caused by the system overloading taking everything out at the same time.

            • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 14,2014 11:14 am || Up

              The two comm systems failing 15 minutes apart strongly suggests a deliberate act.

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
              • andeux Mar 14,2014 11:30 am || Up

                There does seems to be a lot of circumstantial evidence pointing in that direction.
                OTOH, if it were a terrorist act, usually by this time there would be someone claiming responsibility and/or some plausible suspects with clear ties to some group.
                The way I read the last bit in the passage you quoted up above is just that they’re not ruling any possibility out at this point, rather than a claim that that scenario is likely.
                In any case, yes, it is definitely a strange case.

                TINSTAAFK
                • dmoas Mar 14,2014 12:33 pm || Up

                  I thought so too. But it turns out that that actually isn’t the case.

                • Future Ed Mar 15,2014 7:16 am || Up
                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Mar 15,2014 8:22 am || Up

                  Yup. Saw that last night. This has a movie in the making. The longer it takes the more likely it won’t be a cheesy TV movie.

                • Future Ed Mar 15,2014 5:22 pm || Up
                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Mar 15,2014 6:58 pm || Up

                  By now, anywhere.

    • AV Mar 18,2014 2:00 pm || Up
      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 18,2014 3:04 pm || Up

        Needs Moar Conspiracy.

        Actually it does; you have to really strain and twist to accommodate this theory to the facts of losing communication in phases and ongoing pings from the engines for the next six hours.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • dmoas Mar 18,2014 3:27 pm || Up

          Not necessarily. The pings could simply be the result of an auto piloted craft with unconscious/dead pilots at the stick until crashing. At the very least it should be possible to check that path.

          • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 3:35 pm || Up

            everyone on board has a cell phone.

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
            • dmoas Mar 18,2014 3:41 pm || Up

              So? Unless they’re near cell towers, they won’t do much good. And at the time of the event, they’d have been over the ocean where cell towers are… rather scarce. By that time they could have been within range, they may have all been taken out by the smoke.

              • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 6:32 pm || Up

                i don’t see that issue. there are plenty of cell towers.

                I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • andeux Mar 18,2014 6:37 pm || Up

                  7 miles above the open ocean?

                  TINSTAAFK
                • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 6:48 pm || Up

                  It was not stationary. at somepoint it was within tower range somewhere.

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Mar 18,2014 6:59 pm || Up

                  At the point that the event (whatever it was) occurred, they were over the ocean and out of cell range. If it were a fire or something like it, by the time they got back into range, they could have all been dead via smoke inhalation. If it were a terror act, their cells could have been taken away. Either way, it’s not really proof of anything.

                • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 7:07 pm || Up

                  I don’t buy the accident theory. I think some debris would have been found if there was a crash in any conceivable area the plane went after a fire

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Mar 18,2014 7:17 pm || Up

                  The ocean is a mighty big place. And you have to be looking in the right place to find it. I’m not suggesting the accident/fire theory is right (as I noted below). But it is at least semi-plausible given all the variables.

                • andeux Mar 18,2014 7:45 pm || Up

                  But again, non-accident has the same problem. A terrorist hijacker (or a suicide) is likely to either crash immediately or try to land somewhere, not fly as far away from land as possible until they run out of fuel.

                  TINSTAAFK
                • andeux Mar 18,2014 7:06 pm || Up

                  In the Goodfellow flying West theory they are over ocean the whole time. Also possibly all dead.

                  Anyway, I’m not even sure what you’re arguing. Lack of cell contact is just as problematic (if not more so) for the hijacking-by-pilot scenario.

                  TINSTAAFK
                • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 7:08 pm || Up

                  I wasn’t arguing with goodfellow. If I have read that, I dont remember right now.

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Mar 18,2014 7:17 pm || Up

                  Goodfellow is the fire theory.

            • AV Mar 18,2014 3:45 pm || Up

              so why did nobody SMS?!? that’s the question that keeps stopping my belief in the conspiracy theories.

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
              • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 6:31 pm || Up

                the only thing I can think of is depressurization and then the hijacking crew takes everyones things.

                I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • andeux Mar 18,2014 3:36 pm || Up

          The theory definitely requires some low-probability coincidences of timing – the fire would have to be serious enough to knock out the transponder, but not serious enough to be noticed by the pilots yet, at the time of the last verbal contact – and he does kind of gloss that over.

          But the conspiracy theories seem at least as a priori unlikely in their own right – an anonymous hijacker with extensive commercial pilot training, or one of the plane’s own pilots with no apparent warning signs mysteriously deciding to fly in some random direction until he ran out of fuel.

          To me Occam’s razor points in the direction of some sort of accident like the author posits.

          TINSTAAFK
          • dmoas Mar 18,2014 3:46 pm || Up

            I think any way you look at it whatever happened is a lottery winner’s event. And part of the issue is where the fire started. Near the communications? Near the transponder? And how close are the two? If it took out the communications first, they could have been pulling out the busses intentionally taking out the transponder with the hopes of restoring the system before realizing just how much trouble they were in.

            • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 18,2014 4:13 pm || Up

              A fire gradually taking out communications in succession, then causing the flaming plane to continue to fly for 6 hours, seems at this point less likely to me than the pilot-based hijacking scenario.

              Nothing has been said about the five hourly pings before the last one, but if the fire theory was correct and the pilots were unconscious or unable to fly, presumably all of those other pings could have locations triangulated into what would turn out to be a straight line (I understand that each ping gives two ranges of location options and does not show heading). Since the info on the earlier pings has been silent, I suspect that the other five pings give more indications of deliberate pilot actions.

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
              • dmoas Mar 18,2014 4:29 pm || Up

                Well, autopilot could continue flying those 6 hours. The question is whether the weird maneuver stopped the fire. If it did, then the damage wouldn’t necessarily take out the equipment but there could be enough smoke to take out the pilots. Lenscrafter’s point about the course being manually entered is still an oddity. But given all the misinformation about this who’s to really say with any certainty that some of what we think we know is false at this point.

              • andeux Mar 18,2014 4:42 pm || Up

                Explanation of ping (singular) here.

                After reading about it a bit more, that Goodfellow fellow’s theory does seem to have more problems than I realized.

                But at the same time, what we “know” – about the timeline of events, and the plane’s path and possible locations – has already been revised a couple of times, and I agree with dmoas’ last point. No matter what the truth turns out to be (if we ever even find out at all) there’s a good chance that something being cited as fact now will turn out to be mistaken.

                TINSTAAFK
                • dmoas Mar 18,2014 4:51 pm || Up

                  Of all the current theories running around, I certainly wouldn’t put the Goodfellow version of the fire at the top. The one thing that I feel is for certain, the investigation itself has been one monumental clusterfuck so far. At this point, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if tomorrow a random airport in Canada were to call up and goes “Oh, hey. Um, we have your plane. It landed here last week. Oops, forgot to tell you, eh. Ha ha.”

                • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 18,2014 5:38 pm || Up

                  Interesting explanation of the pings…that pprune board is certainly a wealth of info. Did you see the old posts some reddit detective found (then quickly deleted by mods) from someone ostensibly in Malaysia in 2011 asking how to disable ACARS and reprogram transponder ID info on the 777?

                  Anyway, what strikes me about this ping info is that it implies that the powers that be got the info on the last ping just in time, before it would have been overwritten by some other data. If they had checked just a bit later, suggests that info, there would have been no data at all. Makes me suspicious. Naturally.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • andeux Mar 18,2014 5:52 pm || Up

                  There’s no reason to be suspicious just because the satellite was made by Yoyodyne.

                  TINSTAAFK
                • dmoas Mar 18,2014 6:22 pm || Up

                  Now if it had been made by Cyberdyne…

                • Future Ed Mar 18,2014 6:47 pm || Up

                  yoyodyne…Don’t they make our trunchen bomber?

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • AV Mar 18,2014 7:54 pm || Up

                  do you want a mouthful of bloody chiclitz?

                  *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
                • brian.only Mar 18,2014 9:53 pm || Up

                  Lectroids…

                • Future Ed Mar 19,2014 7:45 am || Up

                  a girl named john??

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 19,2014 10:45 am || Up

                  There’s definitely a lot of misinterpretation and misinformation. We have a fairly small timeframe in which we know that something unusual happened, but we have no idea what that is or what really happened after that.

                  There’s information out there about the plane going super high, super low, turning hard left, going way south or way north, being pre-programmed… All of it is unlikely to be true.

                  What does seem likely is that this much time with no contact or communication means that whatever happened led a large loss of life.

      • lenscrafters Mar 18,2014 3:49 pm || Up

        The latest info suggests that the turn was programmed into the flight management computer. This is not something that’s easily done. In the event of a catastrophe, and if the pilot has alternative airports firmly in mind as this author suggests, he would’ve made the turn as quickly as possible (manually) instead of using the FMC.

  56. Future Ed Mar 13,2014 6:30 am
    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 13,2014 4:42 pm || Up

      This almost sounds like a calculated effort to get him to waive his no-trade.

  57. batgirl Mar 13,2014 9:53 am

    Can one of you tell me who this is?

    • MikeV Mar 13,2014 10:03 am || Up

      Mac

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • batgirl Mar 13,2014 10:09 am || Up

        That’s what I thought, but the signature threw me off because it looks like it ends with a Y, which I guess is a G with a scribble after it. My friend bought this card in a goodwill for $1 and texted me a picture. She’s always looking for Broncos and A’s stuff for me. She lives in Denver, so she finds more cool Broncos stuff, obviously.

        • PDXAthleticsfan Mar 13,2014 10:12 am || Up

          Here’s another pic with his autograph. Yep, that y-like thing threw me off, too, but it looks consistent, so Mac it is.

          A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.
          • AV Mar 13,2014 10:29 am || Up

            damn. that’s some descender…

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
            • PDXAthleticsfan Mar 13,2014 11:31 am || Up

              I’m impressed by how consistent Reggie’s median and baseline is.

              A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.
              • AV Mar 13,2014 12:53 pm || Up

                very tidy, but i think it’s just his finial is less pronounced.

                oh wait. you’re talking about the signatures…

                *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • MikeV Mar 13,2014 10:13 am || Up

          It’s definitely not McGwire’s signature.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

    • dmoas Mar 13,2014 10:04 am || Up

      Mark McGwire, but I’m pretty sure that’s not his sig. Not unless that’s the worst “e” in the history of our alphabet.

    • Glorious Mundy Mar 13,2014 10:08 am || Up

      Rob Nelson

  58. Glorious Mundy Mar 13,2014 10:57 am

    My household has been randomly selected to participate in an Arbitron survey. Who has two thumbs and is about to increase the ratings of A’s broadcasts?

    (Also they enclosed two crisp $1 bills with a promise of five more if I return the survey. That this is how programming decisions are made is totally insane.)

  59. DFA Mar 13,2014 11:08 am

    There is a significant chance that I will be moving back to SF in time for the season. Will know more on Monday.

    In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
    • dmoas Mar 13,2014 11:16 am || Up

      Oh No!!! I mean, Yay!!

    • Future Ed Mar 13,2014 12:24 pm || Up

      cool

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 13,2014 2:25 pm || Up

      Hooray!

      • DFA Mar 13,2014 3:55 pm || Up

        Theye flying me up for a second interview monday. I figure thats a good sign.

        In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 13,2014 6:03 pm || Up

          Good luck!

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  60. batgirl Mar 13,2014 12:19 pm

    You stats folks have probably already talked about this, but just in case…

  61. ptbnl Mar 13,2014 1:32 pm

    Trying to book travel to Shetland via Glasgow for a party of four with one coming from Warsaw, one from Oban, and two from Oakland, with three of the party returning to Oakland via Dublin, two traveling on air miles, one traveling part of the route for business and the rest for pleasure, and one refusing to do any travel before noon.

    I’ve got the United, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Flybe, Scotrail, Kayak, Expedia and Expedia-UK websites open and my head is starting to spin.

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • Future Ed Mar 13,2014 1:48 pm || Up

      you should talk to green star Oakland. he knows a lot about travelling.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • ptbnl Mar 13,2014 2:01 pm || Up

        Meh – he’s all mouth and trousers.

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • nevermoor Mar 13,2014 8:18 pm || Up

          Just a small slammer with aspirations.

          "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • DFA Mar 13,2014 1:48 pm || Up

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • dmoas Mar 13,2014 1:51 pm || Up

        I lof you.

        • DFA Mar 13,2014 3:54 pm || Up

          back at you

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • batgirl Mar 13,2014 1:55 pm || Up

        Oh jeez–where can I get one of those to bring home with me??

        • ptbnl Mar 13,2014 2:00 pm || Up

          Ummm …Shetland?

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
          • batgirl Mar 13,2014 2:49 pm || Up

            I was hoping for something more local. But maybe you can put one in the overhead bin on your way home?

        • Jennifer Mar 13,2014 2:20 pm || Up

          They are evil.

      • AV Mar 13,2014 2:05 pm || Up

        OMGPONIES!!!1!

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • MikeV Mar 13,2014 3:04 pm || Up

      I can’t even find cheap flights to Vegas for 2.

      Travel sucks.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

    • Soaker Mar 13,2014 3:45 pm || Up

      The persnickety one who refuses to travel before noon should be sentenced to Ryanair if at all possible.

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • ptbnl Mar 13,2014 5:04 pm || Up

        To be fair, it’s my 80 year old mother and I was proposing a 7-hour bus/train combo starting at 7:45am on a Sunday.

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • Soaker Mar 13,2014 5:23 pm || Up

          Oh. I’m glad your mother is healthy enough that such a proposal would even be a consideration. My mother’s 80th birthday would be while I’m at spring training next season, but to be blunt I hope she doesn’t make it to that point. Quality of life is so low, she can barely move at all. A flu bug or something sweeping through the old folks’ place would be a real blessing.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
          • ptbnl Mar 13,2014 5:32 pm || Up

            It was only because I’d been told she wouldn’t fly, so we had to get her across the country to the ferry port.

            Turns out she’s happy to fly if accompanied, so the 14-hour boat trip has been replaced by the 1 hour flight in each direction.

            I suspect it’ll be the last such trip though.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • ptbnl Mar 14,2014 10:02 am || Up

      I’ve now spent an hour on the phone with United arguing about how long ago 9pm California time on 3/12 was; I say 36 hours, they claim 12 hours, and they’re the ones running an international airline.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
      • dmoas Mar 14,2014 10:27 am || Up

        So apparently they don’t know what today is?

        • ptbnl Mar 14,2014 10:57 am || Up

          Their confusion was that record locator details are annotated in zulu time which was 4am on 3/13, and they were then mixing the California time and the London date.

          The scary thing was how hard it was to get them to step back from the computer and just think it through.

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
      • DFA Mar 14,2014 11:19 am || Up

        They have gone bankrupt several times so i wouldn’t suggest any level of competency

        In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
        • ptbnl Mar 14,2014 11:27 am || Up

          At very least you’d expect some familiarity with the concept that different parts of the world could be on different days simultaneously.

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
          • andeux Mar 14,2014 11:31 am || Up

            Or the ability to clear the confusion up in something less than an hour.

            TINSTAAFK
            • ptbnl Mar 14,2014 11:42 am || Up

              After an hour with the agent we had agreed to work in a single timezone (Zulu) and got to the following conversation:

              – We agree that the ticket was booked at 04:00 ZT on 3/13?
              – Yes.
              – And we agree that it is now 16:00 ZT on 3/14?
              – Yes.
              – Do you agree that the difference between those two times is more than 24 hours?
              – No.

              At that point I requested a supervisor.

              If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
          • Future Ed Mar 14,2014 2:17 pm || Up

            right like the hospital being confuse why your 3 day old did not have an insurance card, or the same last name as the mother.

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Dial C for Concupiscence Mar 14,2014 12:08 pm || Up

          They are pretty terrible. The international portion of my flight to Barcelona was Lufthansa. On the way back, it was United. The difference was stark, to put it mildly.

          • ptbnl Mar 15,2014 2:00 am || Up

            Trouble is I need to fly all over Europe, I’m required to fly on a US carrier, and my home airport is SFO, so I’m pretty much stuck with United.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  62. doctorK Mar 15,2014 8:07 pm

    FK YEAH IOWA STATE

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 16,2014 9:08 pm || Up

      We’re gonna have some issues on Sunday, you and me, if form holds Friday.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."

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