And ended up at Safeco. Until a few hours ago, searching Twitter for “bear + Athletics” only yielded a bunch of tweets from people saying they couldn’t bear to watch another game. But no longer. RAWR!
Susan SlusserThere is a bear costume sitting at a table in #Athletics clubhouse. (We aren’t allowed to take photos). “Bear down,” Sean Doolittle says.
Melvin on the bear in the clubhouse: "I think it has its place, definitely."
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 13, 2014
Two words on #Athletics whiteboard: "Bear Down!" And there's a huge stuffed bear at one clubhouse table with newspaper open to MLB page.
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) September 12, 2014
Quite the visual: a big, furry fake bear is set up at a clubhouse table. Samardzija, Otero doing crosswords right next to him. #Athletics
— Joe Stiglich (@JoeStiglichCSN) September 12, 2014
Also in cuddly and adorable tweets:
Adam Dunn talks to his "favorite player," Scott Hatteberg. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/NZPUHdZb7p
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 13, 2014
And speaking of cuddly and adorable, if you haven’t seen it yet you must watch the video for My A’s Tickets, featuring Bob Melvin and Banjo Man, together again for the first time.
Whenever I hear about Seattle pitcher James Paxton, I think about Tom Paxton, (who as far as I know is no relation) and his song “My Favorite Spring”, which is surely one of the all-time great songs about baseball. It’s not on YouTube but here are the lyrics. Not that I’m suggesting that something should snap in James Paxton’s shoulder and that would be all she wrote for him, of course. I would rather that he not even get to the bottom of the seventh, throwing easy as can be.
Let’s Go, Oakland!
| Athletics | 2014 stats | Last 5 years vs. starter | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVG | HR | RBI | SB | AB | AVG | HR | RBI | |
| Crisp, C, CF | .257 | 9 | 45 | 19 | – | – | – | – |
| Gomes, J, LF | .238 | 6 | 37 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Donaldson, J, 3B | .255 | 26 | 93 | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Norris, D, DH | .274 | 10 | 52 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Lowrie, J, SS | .249 | 6 | 45 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Freiman, N, 1B | .213 | 5 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Soto, G, C | .214 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| Punto, N, 2B | .207 | 2 | 13 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Fuld, S, RF | .248 | 3 | 30 | 19 | – | – | – | – |
- SP- Jason Hammel
- 2014 season
- 10–10, 3.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 143 Ks
- vs. Mariners last 5 years
- 2–1, 3.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 19 Ks
Lately, the team and the fans have been full of tension and losing, while I’ve been cool as a cucumber.
Today, I’m full of tension, so that means the A’s most likely will be loosey goosey and win 8-3.
I’m also full of something…probably not tension though.
There’s a special nozzle you can put on your shower hose that’ll clear that problem right up.
That might also help me get out of my pleather outfit.
The doctor took one look at my blood pressure this morning and said, “You know, this is pretty close to the point where we send the patient to the ER.” They’re trying to kill their fans.
OH NO PUNTO FK FK FK
Pretty fancy intro there, EM…good job.
We are converting one of our websites at work to WordPress, so we had a two-hour training yesterday. I shocked the trainer by knowing how to do almost everything already….all due to FK!
Free Kraut: Where Learning Happens.
Hopefully the A’s are deserving of this pretty game thread.
Back on AN I would often game thread without actually watching the game…have you folks considered that? You might enjoy baseball more.
This is damned good advice, especially during frustrating times like these.
I think they frown upon that sort of thing these days.
Too busy doing VORP calculations?
You know me so well.
I prefer my bullpen types to be creamy.
Me too.
Fuld is out of the 2 spot so this should be a good game.
I think this season went down the drain when Sandy Alderson made the Mark McGwire trade. Eric Ludwick hasn’t helped us at all this year.
Slow down, folks…I can only read one comment every 14 minutes.
Sheeeit.
What do they call those when the hitter hits it out of the field of play in fair territory?
If we could get more than one run, they could call it an early mistake that had no bearing on the ultimate outcome of the game.
Did we get one of those? Those are cool.
Ken and Vince mocking soccer. Guess that’s cool.
MikeV is on his way to kick both of their asses.
It’s way past the point where the A’s can afford those plays on defense.
…or those. The infield’s in, Jonny, you can’t punt that one.
Nice play Soto.
Nice play Gomes.
This team fucking sucks.
I think this season went down the drain when Charlie Finley made the Reggie Jackson trade. Mike Torrez hasn’t helped us at all this year.
Well, at least I have KU football.
When did Bill Paxton start pitching for the Mariners?
that’s bill pullman, you fool!
I just figured he was the catcher.
my alt replay woulda been: his name is chet. and he didn’t think it was a whale’s dick, honey.
No shit, you 2 donkey dicks couldnt get laid in a morgue.
I loved that movie growing up…Kelly LeBrock was so 80’s hawt.
One of my favorites. Can still quote it liberally and remember odd little facts. When Lisa is getting the house ready for the party the song thats playing is a cover of Prince’s “Private Joy”.
It’s a classic. I’m surprised they haven’t remade it.
They need to reboot Spiderman again first.
The Really, Really Amazing Spider-Man
and, to be honest, of all john hughes, it’s held up the best. 16C for nostalgia, but WS would probably be better received in a first viewing nowadays.
He really had an amazing run as a director.
What’s this about Ferris Bueller now?
it’s a transcendent double feature with election.
So…that wasn’t a two year contract that Billy signed Punto to…was it?
This is depressing…we need to talk about something more successful…like the Raiders.
I like their chances this Sunday.
I like their chances to start the game on time.
Sam Fuld WILL NOT BE DENIED…second base.
Is it possible that this months Adderall shipment didn’t make it to Oakland?
Hey..someone screwed up the R column..its supposed to just sit in 0, right?
well that’s nice.
Straight Runz, Homey.
Stop talking in the second person, Vince. “That’s what impresses you about Paxton. You want to talk about the breaking ball, but…”
Or you know…just stop talking, Vince.
Be careful, next it will be “Vince thinks Vince wants to see a shutdown inning.”
So the object of the game is to load the bases and not scire, right? We are great at that.
This comment was edited by Future Ed.
bed with the jokes
I’m here to help, Ed.
The Oakland Athletics: Now more depressing than listening to The Cure.
Uh oh. Soto down.
I am in and out because of caring for a bunch of kids in my house while a vigil goes on outside for the kid that was killed the last time Paxon faced the A’s, so what is up with not using anderson?
Well, I have seen Pamela Anderson “catch” but that was back in the mid-90’s. I don’t know how she’s playing these days.
WTH happened to Soto? And why not use the Anderson kud who was brought up to be C #6.
IDK, and IDK. Seems like using Anderson would make more sense at this point in the game.
Yeah I don’t get the point of even having that guy if you’d rather give up the DH than use him.
Is it possible Melvin thinks he’s still managing the Diamondbacks and doesn’t know he has the DH?
Especially with Hammel pitching ok. You are saying right now he isnt going longer than 6. Even if uts true I dont want to advertise it.
I see that Nate Freiman is still tall.
LOL. Melvin is a genius.
It worked out just like he planned it.
Real baseball!
It’s DAMN GRITTY and it’s the way God intended baseball to be played.
I don’t believe in god – I’m a Buffalo Bills fan.
Makes sense to me…hey, at least Donald Trump didn’t buy the team.
Gertie. Not gritty.
I think we all prefer Gertie.
Ok, so trash like my last 2 comments, and -as always- never question BoMel.
Last week it was 95 degrees. Tonight I had to throw a wool blanket on my bed. Speaking of Bed, sup? I was going to go to Arkansas at the end of the month, but ended up deciding on Oklahoma instead.
Sup, Jennifer. Well, Oklahoma does have more wide open spaces and meth heads so you made a solid choice.
I gave up on baseball, so I’ve moved on to concerts. Oklahoma had GA, Arkansas had seats. I don’t do seats at a concert.
I’m old, I prefer seats. I gave up on baseball somewhere around 1996.
I can out wait almost anyone. I’ve got in line for a concert at 8 AM before for doors at 6 PM.
Enjoy 30 while you can.
Every single female on my dad’s side of the family has died before the age of 55. All from the same cause. I figure I’ve got 20 more years in me so I’m living it up. Who needs a retirement plan?
Live fast. Die young. Leave a pretty corpse.
I think the last time I stood around in GA at a concert was Huey Lewis & The News at Cal Expo sometime in the late 80’s. It was both hip and square that night.
It was like 102 today. I hate you.
It’s 54 outside of my place right now…down right chilly.
Ive started to call this “the lie”. The extended forecast always show our average 10 days from now is like 10-15 degrees cooler. But we wont actually cool down until mid Oct.
It’s usually still hot and muggy here right now…it’s been a very mild summer. We’ve only been Nick Punto hot.
Like, 50 degrees today. I wore socks to bed! I hate socks so much, sometimes I don’t even wear them to work!
I only use a sock for alone time.
Now Big Nick is up there to drive em’ home.
Why hasnt Punto learned to lean into everything yet? He could be much more valuable as our Ron Hunt.
you can’t italicize a . !
look: .
see? totally the same.
dang. dithered again. you can ital a . when it’s square.
WTF was that call, Vince?
I was thinking, boy I’m glad I can see this on TV because I would have been completely baffled.
nutty.
Kay and I prefer creamy.
A bit nutty.
Dr. Evil is a personal hero of mine.
A’s wasting scoring opportunities? I’ve seen this script before.
We need to send it back for a re-write.
Hmm…no NFL player has been arrested in the last 2 hours. Give Goodell an extension!
D’oh!
baseball is dumb
You, and your fancy sabermetric posts.
I mean, its would take one more to win, lets get it
This Game Thread has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America.
Wait CY25 is a Yankee?
See, having a 300 million dollar payroll pays off in the end.
Excellent!
Billy ball!
Ken really mucked up that call. Without watching, sounds as if it may have been even worse than Fuld did in that AB.
Will I forget who Billy Burns is in…
A. One week
B. One month
C. One year
D. I like fudge
So, I guess Kendrys Morales is still alive.
Well, I guess it’s time to become a Royals fan.
needed to get 2 to win
Someone tell Bob it’s time to put in the good hitters now.
maximum pitcher?
Meanwhile the Angels scored 7 runs to erase a 3-0 deficit.
Oh.
At least the Angels won’t be clinching at the Coliseum (again).
At least the Raiders will have an all grass field earlier. It should make the 3-13 record go down smoother.
I think NFL players should be required to have criminal records.
Good news…we’re almost there.
i remember things like that.
At this point the only thing I remember is Phil Collins’ lyrics.
I don’t care anymore.
That’s the new 2014 Oakland A’s theme song.
I dont mind. No I, I dont mind.
Well, I wonder who starts in the Royals vs Mariners play in game?
This team needs Bob Geren!
The Oakland Athletics: Now more depressing than marrying a 70 year old.
So, when does Jimmy Carter give “the Oakland Malaise” speech?
“Tonight, there is a crisis in confidence in our ability to score any runs.”
I’m with Jennifer. I’m going to quit baseball and just start going to concerts. Maybe I’ll follow the Little River Band on their world tour in 1981.
I hear Air Supply is going to open for them.
3 run mojo
This is the kind of game that will drive you to marry a 70 year old…or even follow soccer.
MikeV is now on his way to kick my ass.
I have a good feeling that in the 9th inning baseball will be played.
Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, well, he eats you.
and sometimes it rains.
A hit! From Moss!
A teAse!
Hey now…2 on, no outs.
Hey now…2 on, 1 out.
Hey now…2 on, 2 outs.
What a joke.
pAthetic
Hey now…2 on, 3 outs.
I’m happy to see that Free Kraut hasn’t gotten nasty during this stretch of baseball. This is a good group and this bad baseball will pass.
We did have one notable implosion, but the rest of us have been keeping it together with gallows humor and A.A. Milne characters.
And just general apathy and resignation.
That’s my strategy.
MOAR leadoff XBHs squandered! Lay it on me!
Did sirbed get all cranky and quit again?
I think he “went” to “Hawaii”
While Bed just went Hawaiian.
You mean when the regular season ends and I get my playoff ticket deposit back?
the A’s sure are setting themselves up for an exciting challenge.
I stopped watching consistently once they were down 4-2. Wife not interested in baseball so I watched what she was watching and monitored the game on my phone. Checked things out when tying run was at the plate. That didn’t work either.
By tomorrow, the A’s will be the chasers. Maybe that will help.
I don’t know if it totally fits, but after every game this goes through my head
Air is what mostly goes through my head.
did they though? did they really?
right. the end being near, and facing the final curtain is too real
For those who watched this entire game you win a brand new car! Just go to Lew’s house and he’ll set you up.
It looks like we’ve lost the run differential crown as well.
nnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooo
The way Oakland is playing I think it’s time we all send them an email saying “Best wishes and go A’s.”
After games played 8/9/14, A’s were 72-44, Angels 68-48. Since then, LAA is 24-7 (best in AL) and OAK is 9-22 (worst in AL).
The A’s have won 9 games during that span? Except for the Lowrie walkoff, it hasn’t felt like it.
there was memorial day and the white sox shellacking.
Maybe houston? the twins was like 3, right?
The 3 wins against Minnesota were just before the bad stretch. Memorial Day was in May.
3 substretches since then:
1-7, mostly the bad road trip to KC and Atl
5-3, split against NYM and series wins at home against LAA and @ Houston.
3-12, starting with the sweep @ LAA. Single wins against Seattle, Houston, CWS.
labor day. it was a typo?