Chavez and Phil Hughes.
Fuld
Lowrie
Donaldson
Moss
Cespedes
Callaspo
Jaso
Reddick
Sogard
I liked it better when Jaso was batting 2nd.
Go A’s.
Game 8 A’s vs. Twins 314
314 thoughts on “Game 8 A’s vs. Twins”
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Pretty good start.
Meh. I’ve seen better.
Coco gets a third day off in a row, hmm.
They’re saying possibly out tomorrow too, but “not a DL candidate.”
Whatever that means.
It means a pinch hit appearance on Saturday, three more days off, then a DL trip
Sounds like a challenge!
I credit me for deleting some critical remarks about the Twins signing Hughes to avoid jinxes.
woo!
Moss delivers an RBI single on the 11th pitch of his AB. Dinner at Francesco’s!
I have not been to Francesco’s in about 15 years, but I bet it looks exactly the same as the last time I visited, which in turn was exactly the same as the previous time I went, circa 1978.
Dont think I have ever been (if I did I was too young to remember). Should I check it out once to say that I did?
Seems like it should be a FKup in the making.
It’s like a time capsule of the state of East Bay sports and Italian restaurants from the mid-70’s.
Hence why Fosse LOVES it.
…Can’t tell if we’re talking about Francesco’s or Fosse himself
I had a similar confusion.
I’m coming around on Callaspo DHing.
Rats. I thought Reddick was going to make all three outs in this inning.
But hey..at least he didn’t spike himself.
Whoa, this was awesome….
Related, also holy shit:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_04_09_oakmlb_minmlb_1&mode=gameday#gid=2014_04_09_cinmlb_slnmlb_1&mode=video
The sac fly clip is must watch. These are literally the two most amazing sac flies I’ve ever seen.
Did that link work for others? I’m guessing this is the right link:
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/8877984/v31940121/cinstl-hamilton-races-home-on-shallow-sac-fly/?c_id=mlb
At least Fosse & Kuiper are critical of diving into 1B on grounders.
And, the new caps do go a bit better with the new green alts.
I don’t know if it’s may TV or the quality of their broadcast, but they look awful. At least from the back.
You’d think the Josh Hamilton injury would make players think a little more about doing the 1B dive…but, nah, it’s not changing.
This new transfer rule is silly.
what the hell has happened?
its just dumb.
If that’s not a strikeout, I don’t know what is
Very well may have won a challenge. Cannot underestimate how stupid the new interpretation of the rule is.
I still cannot see how the new reply stuff makes a new rule necessary.
It doesn’t. The people in charge are morons.
Of all the rules to be concerned about, that wasn’t one of them. The original rule made sense and was reasonably easy to apply.
Yep.
The definition of a “catch” has not changed. The interpretation of a “voluntary and intentional” release in the rule has always been lenient. If we’re going to enforce the letter of the law due to replay, Suzuki arguably did not complete a rulebook catch.
If the neighborhood play at second base should continue as before, I’d prefer this go along those lines as well.
preach
When football adopted replay you started seeing a tendency among officials not to blow the whistle as quickly. It wasn’t (as far as I know) part of an official new approach, more an unspoken thing, because while a replay reversal can always undo action which transpired, it cannot correct for action which stopped due to a whistle. I suspect we’ll see the same thing in baseball, a tendency for umps to keep a play live then in doubt, because it’s more easily corrected by replay that way.
if I am the batting team, and the play is called out and upon review called safe, I am happy enough that I don’t have an out.
If I am the pitching team and the initial call is out and upon review I am reasonably happy with placing the runners.
if I am the batting team, and the play is called out and upon review called safe, I’m not so happy with placement. There are several incidences where it costs you a run.
of course. but its better than “out”
Better than out isn’t necessarily meaning you’ll be happy.
Maybe I am moving goalposts, maybe I am being unclear. Let me try again.
When the play starts and the umpire sees what he thinks is a catch and drop on transfer, and would have called it out in 2013, 2012, 2011 etc, s/he makes the call OUT, like he would have last year.
Fine. call it that way. If upon review its changed, fine, better to get a runner on.
is it more accurate to rewind a play and put runners in correct bases after an incorrect “safe” is reviewed into an “out”, or to predictively move runners up on an incorrect “out” reviewed into a “safe”? and with more accuracy, would both sides tend to agree with the corrected call more?
I don’t think that’s an adequate measuring stick. In the past that call still could have been overturned without review and they’d still not be happy with he placement. If it’s about getting things right with minimal impact on the game, you should err on the side of continuation when possible. The real issue is deciding what creates minimal impact and I think that’s something that time and experience should settle. So for now, do what you’d normally do and at the end of the season, as a group, go over how those calls impacted the game and THEN adjust where you see fit.
but then is the “standard of proof” to overturn a call the same? if we assume all transfer drop situations are “not out” situations, then do we have to have clear and convincing evidence that it was a transfer to make it “out?”
In most cases it’s been pretty clear even on review, so I’d say yes, in theory. But again, that’s something that should be settled as a result of experience, erring on the side of the current status quo for now.
well, In my opinion, there was clear and convincing evidence Hamilton caught the ball last night and lost it in the transfer, so I ma not putting it past mlb to screw things up.
Oh, well, if we’re talking about MLB’s ability to screw things up, ALWAYS side on them doing so.
clear and convincing
It looked like Lloyd McClendon thought his baserunner should have been entitled to advance at least one base on the Hamilton play last night. And Scioscia was definitely happy with the non-advance of the runner.
I’m okay with that methodology as long as the umps are allowed to immediately review it to confirm their calls. Maybe even go so far as to make a signal after the call so that part of the play gets immediately reviewed while in action.
Well, it did get released voluntarily and intentionally. It just didn’t make it into his other hand.
I want the neighborhood play gone. I want the player to have the right to the back of the base and the runner the front. And I want to remove the ability for the runner, particularly AFTER they’re considered OUT, to influence the fielder in any way.
I’d argue that Suzuki’s release of the ball was both voluntary and intentional. His hand coordination was shitty, but there was nothing unintentional or forced about it.
Yup. That’s what I saw too. It wasn’t like the ball fell straight from his glove. It was in the transition process and he just failed miserably at that.
he has a nice smile though
1) Whenever this rule was written, the point was just to try to express the common sense understanding, shared by everyone, of what a catch is, and it should be interpreted in that light.
2) Requiring the “release” to be “voluntary and intentional” is consistent with how it’s always been called. In all these cases that are being messed up this year, the “release” is voluntary and intentional, its just botched. The rule as written is saying it’s still a catch if if it’s dropped on the transfer.
that’s it. i fucking hate vince. no more benefit of the doubt…
IF YOU’RE GONNA DO RODNEY DANGERFIELD IN FRONT OF ME YOU HAVE TO DO IT BETTER THAN THAT!! OH I TELL YOU. [pulls collar to the side]
I was booting up my computer when I heard him and KK discuss chavez being a better pitcher than before. KK noted throwing more strikes, VC noted that it was his confidence that made him better.
I scrambled for a drink.
Jesse’s command has definitely improved. When he’s throwing three different fastballs for strikes like today, he looks McCarthy-esque.
slightly shorter.
Thanks, and go As.
Only a little bit.
more tattoos. balances out.
Thanks, and go As.
But is his wife as hot?
he’s a professional athlete, so probably
Thanks, and go As.
then again, depends on his confidence.
DRINK.
i know! (hic) he sait it twice!
Donaldson did not like it that Brett Anderson had more extra base hits than him
We can’t have that.
ruh! roh!
(champions league edition)
:(
worries me that simeone’s tactic successfully minimized messi (hasn’t scored against atlético in 4 games this year) and that could give nat’l teams game plan for the WC.
75 min of watching Barca control the ball in the attacking 3rd while Atletico parks everybody in the box. I hate that crap.
Thanks, and go As.
oh me too. but if that was the game plan, overrun barcelona for 15, park bus for 75, it worked.
simeone’s game in his words: press hard up the field to “asphyxiate” them. when barça broke through, double back and hold them near AM’s own area. and concede the wings as a lesser of two evils. and that they won because they were more “convinced” of their plan, which is probably a snipe at tata “days are numbered” martino.
gotta wonder then, if AM wasn’t going to fight the wings, what tata saw: “Cross examined about why Alexis hadn’t been introduced earlier in the game, Martino responded by explaining that in his mind, the decisive battles were centrally between the two sides, rather than on the flanks.” *
thank you scioscia
Plouffe forgot Crisp’s not in CF today.
Though, that play was as much Donaldson as Fuld.
If Reddick can’t make contact on 89 mph fastballs, I’m not sure even sending him down to AAA would solve anything.
It’s not a talent issue right now. Whatever’s going on in his head when he’s in the batter’s box, it’s not “see ball, hit ball”.
Maybe he needs glasses.
Cy Jesse
according to gameday, these called third strikes are strikes.
Why are the twins not swinging? Is Oakland playing the A’s?
Too much movement, they’re just totally clueless as to where the fastball’s gonna go.
I don’t remember Chavez having that much movement on his fastball last year. Really looked outstanding today.
Pinetar?
I was one of the biggest skeptics of Jesse Chavez whenever he managed to remain on the A’s roster but he’s proving me wrong big time.
same
It’s going to be up to LD to string together two in a row.
Some more A’s runs would be reassuring.
best bullpen in baseball ™
Gregerson doesn’t have it so far…
It’s nice of Doolittle and Gregerson to take care of the Twins’ scary hitters for LD.
now, mostly on gameday the batter mostly resembles the person it is a stand in for, not so much with norris
It would have been kind of Norris to GIDP to spare Reddick that embarrassment.
I have a feeling Reddick has a pending assignment in Sacramento coming.
Something’s gotta give with him at least
someday we shall all be one.
It’s way too early in the season to act like he does after every out he makes. They need to get that man some weed or something to get the fk out of his head.
Calling a 1-2-3 inning for Johnson here.
And there goes that prediction, quickly.
1B-1B-HR would fit.
pig unavailable.
LD, however, is still pitching.
starting now, perhaps?
2nd and 3rd pitches both clear strikes…
gameday thought first pitch to suzuki was a strike FWIW
come on dude, don’t be a Va-JJ
Soft, wet, and something I’d like to stick my dick in?
vagina’s are orders of magnitude tougher than penises.
Just saying.
Certainly more flexible.
eye heart vagina!
yeah not a fan of this construction, at all
Just setting up the Kurt Special…
One inning too late.
least it wasn’t a walk?
On Yahoo!’s box score window, we have Johnson (in Orioles jersey) facing Suzuki (in Nationals jersey), with Kubel (in D’backs jersey) on first
All-Suck Game!
I hate this guy so much
pretty much this
Here we go again.
walking suzuki.
nice
Hoo boy
You just can’t do this. That’s Jason Kubel and Kurt Suzuki, not Trout and Pujols. Doolittle or Abad for closer, please.
you saw the 8th, yeah?
Thank you for the dumb, bad bunt.
At least the Twins are nice enough to give gifts
GET HIM OUT
18 BBs last year, 6 this year…
PULL HIM NOW.
Right now!
Right off the team!
I’ll contribute $5 to a fund to pay for it.
Let’s foist him off on some sucker team for a washed up former prospect and — oh wait
Single, walk, bunt popout, walk. Jim Johnson back at it.
Got the pen going a little late
This is going well
A STRIKE!
TWO!
Aaron Hicks?? Didn’t he bat like .179 last year?
I’m guessing, after going 0-2, he’ll give up a game winning hit.
Wtf that was not a foul.
naturally
:/
tie.
no! out!
dammit. i keep seeing out in the slo-mo.
Just get this piece of shit motherfucker out of this fucking game, Jesus Christ on six fucking motobikes all fucking ready. Cocksucker.
Nice job by Cespedes on the throw to third. I can’t really say if he’s safe or out. Called safe & it’s probably inconclusive.
I don’t think they can overturn that
On that replay, I can’t even say for sure that Donaldson kept his foot on the bag.
There is a sick part of me that wants to lose to make sure no one can try to explain this away. I’m sorry, but he cannot continue as closer for now. Maybe a few weeks in the 7th or something, but this is not acceptable for a team that thinks it can win the division.
At least one batter too late Bob.
it was, but to be fair, it was just a bloop
Go take a shower, Jim Johnson. A’s need to figure this 9th inning stuff out soon.
He should NOT be closing anymore. That much is clear.
They cant. Every other pitcher in the bullpen has done 6x better than he has so far. And im sure the excuse will be he isnt missing by much-we can’t afford to give games away to let dude find his groove.
This guy is fucking terrible. I’m glad I don’t have to watch it live.
Thanks, and go As.
On that last replay it was pretty clearly an out, but hey had to have had that relay AND seen it that slowly to tell.
I say out. I can see why they didn’t want to overturn it
twins guys said the official reason is inconclusive.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Yup. Agreed.
I thought he was safe.
They showed one review at the end that showed he was actually out.
Replay is a fucking joke…
At least Otero is warmed up now.
This is the worst pitcher in baseball. Eric Sogard could get people out better than this pathetic clown.
Do you suppose Reddick could learn how to pitch at Stockton or someplace if he spends the whole season there?
Safe? Wow. I thought Reddick had it game over.
and fuck home plate rules!!!!
(it’s posey’s fault.)
Yep, Suzuki beat the tag. We are tied, another blown save for Jim Johnson.
That one sadly is safe.
Don’t run on OH NEVER FUCKING MIND ALREADY YOU DO-NOTHING PRO-WRESTLING OBSESSED POST ADOLESCENT C*NT
Wait. You’re blaming him for that? He caught the ball and a made a very good throw.
seriously. it beat him there. If the buser posey rule wasn’t in effect Norris blocks the plate and it’s a game ending out.
Thanks, and go As.
Sometimes you just have to let people rant.
At least rant about something rant worthy. I also don’t like the vagina/cunt bullshit. It’s a dick move.
asvd
But yeah, J, easy with the vagina language.
A STRIKE!!
Getting screwed on the balls and strikes this inning
Where was that one?
what do you guys have no sense of drama?
Free baseball.
At least we live to fight another inning
Well, maybe they’ll win AND we’ll be rid of Johnson as closer…
heh
I can already hear the team speak if we do come back and win. “JJ is right there and we knew we needed to pull it out for him. He will probably roll off 78 1-2-3 innings in a row now…”
Sure, sure, but how about we let him find his groove in a mop up role, m’kay?
This could be a win-win game
almost as good as whatever game FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUwent off after
I don’t know what to say anymore. I’ve lived through Dotel, Rhodes, FUUUUUU….but Jim Johnson is just a whole level beyond.
At least he was cheap
If we get a failed closer who’s first initial is N, we can spell BANJO with these guys’ first initials. So that’s something?
JOBA
What about Koch?
Nilly Koch?
I CAN’T READ!!!!
We’ve gone from the Balfour Rage to the Johnson Rape.
and rape. that is a touchy word too.
(Not that there are rules or anything)
Sure sounds like there are rules. Can I still talk about Goats and Meta?
BaNnEd
Can I communicate with you about this in any manner?
Electronic Mail me.
can we not do this? its not cool at all
I agree.
Forget closer roles. If Jim Johnson is going to get that job back, he has to earn it by pitching better in earlier innings.
Why is Punto pinch-hitting for Sogard? I thought they’d save him for Reddick’s spot.
thats not allowed. Unless Punto can play RF.
I never want to see that fuckstick in a game ever again for us. He couldn’t get his mama out. Ten million dollars flushed down the sewer. DFA HIS ASS and Josh Moron Reddick’s too.
Great, now we have to face a real closer
So following our usual logic Cook will be the de facto closer today even though he isnt ready for it yet, right?
And we’re playing the fued!
Donaldson & Perkins no likey each other.
The reputation is, you can get under Donaldson’s skin with a little verbiage. I remember the Reno Aces had a lot of issues with him a few years ago.
Yeah, looked like Perkins said something to start this one. Donaldson wasn’t even facing him.
Poor Jesse
what’d josh say?
Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?
why, of course…
Instant transcript:
Perkins: ???
Donaldson: What?
Dondaldson: What, motherfucker?
Donaldson: How about dinner? You know a good place?
Other Guy: Sure, you paying?
Donaldson: The fk? I’m the guest, asshole.
This is that white hot A’s Twins rivalry that’s been enthralling bystanders and tearing apart families since the 80s.
you’re tearing englishmajor apart!!
Ahem…
Okay Zooks, I’ve witness many a GIDP, do your thing buddy!
Hee!
Yeah see, if Johnson had just managed to throw strikes to Kurt, that’s what would’ve happened.
O O O Otero.
MOJO?
Let’s see a nice BB here.
What else would you like?
Cespedes double.
Excellent
NORRIS!!!!!!
D-No!!!
SASQUATCH!
norris? all glory.
Y E S !!!
Yay, LD isn’t around to blow this one.
Norris probably just won this one for the A’s in spite of bad camerawork.
HOLY TOLEDO D NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the best part is that it didn’t come down to Reddick.
Platinum.
A couple of considerate teammates will hang around with Johnson and Reddick this evening to make sure they don’t go out for a walk on those high bridges over the river.
lets see, DO, K, K, K, K.
eesh.
I wouldn’t worry too much about Reddick taking a walk.
hey-o!
QOTM FK division.
sticking with this
I thought this was going to be saying Johnson will make us long for FUUU.
Brawny can you hear me?
Can you feel me near you?
Brawny can you see me?
Can I help to cheer you?
Oooh, Brawny! Brawny! Brawny! Brawny!
Reddick couldn’t be more broken at the plate than he is right now.
Just take the out with a 3 run lead Daric…
Oops.
The tomahawk is soooo fitting there.
Bwahahaha
i went to twilight gleaming, rocket red glare, and the hooooome of theeee braaaaaves,
the flag IS still there.
Ha.
Can we please just fking win already.
Let’s do this!
Abad pls?
Interesting that we haven’t seen Cook at all, not even to warm up.
Never a doubt.
Game over. A’s win. Never in doubt.
That wasn’t scurry!
whew. thanks A’s. saved me from a double barrel day there.
OK, now go get LD and Schlong drunk enough that they can’t possibly play tomorrow afternoon.
Lol…Johnson gets a “Hold” today, Otero gets the blown save.
That’s why they are both bullshit ‘stats’.
blown save and the win!
Thanks, and go As.
What a ridiculous pair of stats.
Extras cabbage.
FUCK.
Thanks, and go As.
Damnit.
Someone has a voodoo doll of the kid…
trad for rollins now!
A grade 3 strain? He’d be lucky if he’s back by the all star break. This will affect whether or not he’s ready for Oakland next year.
suppose he is back. and suppose he is doing well. Is he the odds on favorite to start the season in Oakland at short?
If they don’t re-sign Lowrie, it’s either that or Punto full time. I think they have to re-sign Lowrie now, or at least give him the qualifying offer.
what’s the matter with mr. lincecum?
With a strong late push, Joe Nathan ties LD for Closer Implosion Of The Day.
2 blown saves, 2 wins.
Nathan just has TWTW more than LD
Matt Moore–> TJS
The next great thing that never was
Johnson is (for now) out of the closer’s spot.
SuSlu has the comments.
I picked up her link to this blog from a guy playing in the Italian league. It could be interesting to follow through their season. I’d like to see him write more about how the game is different there, and what kind of fans they get.
Well, for one, they speak another language.
You’re welcome.
Thanks, and go As.
more tivo, less tifo.
Yankees succhiare!
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK SLOWER AND LOUDER THANK YOU
Thanks, and go As.
There’s a book called baseballissimo, which is both rather entertaining and pretty accurate
Clearly deserved
we still in first place?
whoa. on the other hand, i’m not still in 3rd place. 6th, shared with archrivals.
(talkin’ ’bout FIFA)
That ranking system totally sucks. Whoever plays the least number of friendlies wins
only oneway to do it right.
TWO MONTHS!
(and this clock is wrong. it thinks it starts at midnight. pfft… shows what canadians know about soccer.)
More:
http://blog.sfgate.com/athletics/2014/04/10/jim-johnson-out-as-as-closer-hes-not-surprised-by-move/
One of these years some team is going to actually show positive results from a “Closer By Committee” approach. Maybe this A’s bullpen is the group to do so, and maybe the circumstances and personnel are such that Melvin can let go of the need to predefine everyone’s role so rigidly and just play matchups.
I hope so. There are not a ton of guys out there who are really the best for just the 9th inning no matter who they’re due to face. You have the guys who racked up 200-300 saves and…a lot of meh afterward.
Just look at this list, post-Rivera. Many of those guys aren’t even currently closers.
(outside of whether donaldson’s call was correct or not) it’s interesting to me how well the reviews in the 9nth went because they weren’t laden with the whole challenge-strategy side of reviews.
(otoh, i’m not sure how the 3rd base one is credited to melvin’s challenge, when i thought after the 6th mgrs lost the challenge and all reviews were ump-generated.)
There’s a stupid condition that if the manager hasn’t used his challenge yet, he has to do the challenging, not the umps.
my cynical bone is beginning to itch with: someone who doesn’t want reviews sandbagged the concept with useless and counterintuitive rules just so fans would reject the whole thing.
why can’t it just be: there was a close play, ump crew not sure, reasonable doubt (possibly brought out by mgr complaint within reason*)? ok, let’s check vid. here’s the call. and done in a minute.
* i do understand some mgrs are going to abuse this and complain about everything, but then again, they used to anyway. hi shosha!
Yup. I’m with you. They claim there aren’t many plays requiring review, so just let the umps make the call with the notion that if there’s ANY doubt, review it. Or before tossing someone over a disputed, reviewable call, review it.
what happened?
Dudes fucked up on the basepaths but nobody cares because it’s not Barton.
Thanks, and go As.
could blame fuld. IIRC he stopped at 2nd when they were bobbling the relay and lowrie wanted to go one more, so lowrie got hung up going back to 1st.
And because this situation was about 10% as important as was the case for Barton’s gaffe.
Not like there were 2 hitters behind Barton that failed to score the runner or anything.
Thanks, and go As.
Way too much straw man from you, especially about this. Barton fucked up. Get over it. Everyone else has.
I’ll post whatever the fuck I want, thanks.
Thanks, and go As.
Did I ever say you shouldn’t? Or are you Straw Manning again?
first dr k logged in as ed, then…
weak throw from outfield, last runner thought he had one more base, got into rundown, lead runner thought he’d go home from that, got into rundown. only lead runner out, runners on 2nd and 3rd.
doh!
down 5-1, infield in for the #3 hitter?