I hope the A’s are resting and relaxing on this day off before the playoffs, because I sure can’t. So excited. Clean slate…win a game, then play some more games and win most of those. The heights of June mean exactly as much as the depths of August, which is to say, not much.
Grill time.
Most Likely You’ll Publish Your Way (And I’ll Publish Mine)
The Stares of Alfred Hitchcock. Wish the video maker just dropped the pulsating gif style and gave us the stares. Because damn, man, Hitch sure loved him some stares.
Inherent Vice debuts this weekend at the New York Film Fest, with commercial release planned for December. I’m really, really looking forward to this. Most flat-out entertaining Pynchon book I’ve read since Vineland. Here’s a promo narrated by the great man himself:
You gotta Grill like nobody’s watching.
"Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
one of youse with all this apparent downtime, hire me a helper monkey please (so i can nervously grill all day too).
Fuck nervousness.
There may be a point in time in which it becomes necessary to unleash the full reality-changing power of the mojo, but it will be there, and it can move mountains.
This. I am much less nervous than the last 2 years. In 12 and 13, by this point bandwagoners and the MSM were buyingg into us. And that is also what happened around the all star break. And how did we react to that?
Now we are getting ovverlooked and a “who the hell knows”. which is much more like what we had when we won.
And truthfully, we are lucky to be here. Every game is found money and I like more baseball with the laundry I like to watch.
I think in ’12 just about everyone not an A’s fan was picking the Tigers. We were a nice little story, but they were Verlander and the Triple Crown winner.
Last year, I think people were picking us because Cabrera was injured and Verlander had been shaky. Basically it was never about us, it was about them.
But there was still “has Billy finally got the right formula?” “this plucky team already took out the big bbudget slegnA and Rangers”. All positive narratives. The closest you get now is “well anything is possible…”
I think that might have been the story last year. The year before it felt like there was a lot of head patting because we were going up against a team with real stars. I think there was enough respect that people would have favored us against the Yankees and Orioles, but people were justifiably skeptical of our pitching and our strikeout tendencies going up against the Tigers.
It sucks that they were right. It also sucks that Coco didn’t catch that ball in Game 2.
there were many goats of game 2 kottaras. Cook. without lookimg it up.
I’m not so nervous right now, but sitting down to watch the game tomorrow, I’m sure the nervous will rear its head
admittedly, for my cool confidence this second, I will be at a teacher conference at 5 tomorrow and probably bbe losing my mind. Though it will help me stay off of computer stufff again. I’m not messing with the streak.
I don’t even know what to feel and that feels great. We “choked” (yes, still think it) and don’t really deserve to be where we are. But because of that, there’s next to no pressure/expectation to succeed. It’s like the house giving you a free million as long as you use it to pick a number on the roulette wheel. Even the fact that we suck ass in clinch games in the playoffs, I mean, it’s one game. Shit can happen either way in a game, so so what if we fail there again. But then we’re not awful in first games of the series, so maybe that overrules the clinch thing. I’ve always been in favor of the single game WC thing, but always figured I’d hate it the first time the A’s fell into that game. Yet, I don’t. It almost makes it easier to take. You know the outcome in a hurry and then you can relax one way or the other.
Very hard to choke in a one game playoff unless you have a big lead late. And very easy to say ‘shit happens in a single game.”
Yep. Makes accepting the results easier so long as there isn’t an infield fly rule called when the ball drops in the outfield.
i’d be so upset, i’d… i’d… i’d forget to recycle!!!
how do you feel about interference?
Fuck Aybar. That’s how I feel.
i’m not actually nervous. see july 12, 2014.
I’m sort of excited that we’re playing in the first Kansas City playoff game since 1985. I would be much more worried about that being a problem for us with just about anyone other than Lester pitching. Since he is pitching, it’s just pretty cool.
Gardenhire gets the axe
wow. Did anyone see that coming? I mean they have been bad, but he has had nothing to work with since they were last good. And if any org is known for understanding the process it is the Twins.
You’d think so, right? Look who they saddled him with. If they expected better, they’re fooling themselves and looking for a scapegoat.
Steinbach a candidate?
I wonder if he’d be a candidate for the AZ job. Especially with Stew & LaRussa.
Chip Hale was with the Twins for most of his playing career. He’ll probably get an interview at least.
Slusser’s daily notes piece includes these nuggets:
* A’s pitchers didn’t walk a batter in the final five games, an Oakland record.
* Sonny Gray is just the second opposing pitcher (along with David Wells) to throw two shutouts against the Rangers in the current stadium in Arlington.
There was a hit batsman though. Also, batsman isn’t marked red by the browser which is both weird to me and cool.
Doolittle walked Iannetta to lead off the 9th on Wednesday.
The actual factoid is for starting pitchers.
Time to rosterbate, I think.
If that’s true, who do we think the extra starter is? Obviously not Sonny. Probably not Shark, though you could make a case for using him for a couple of batters on two days rest. Better to avoid the temptation and have him fresh for Thursday I guess. So it’s Hammel or Kazmir then. I think I’m taking Hammel, but maybe I’m falling for a hot hand fallacy.
I got to figure it’s Hammel. Kaz would be on short rest, but doable. Hammel would have an extra day and he’s done really well with extra rest. But I like the move nonetheless.
The reason you’re carrying the starter is to pitch several innings, either if he’s in to pitch as long as it takes in an extra inning game or if Lester were to get hurt early. As a team the Royals hit better against lefties. I’ll give Hammel the edge.
Very true. We should be pretty well set up for extras with Hammel and Pomeranz while still keeping the ALDS rotation intact.
I’m not sure Pomeranz makes it if we’re taking Hammel as the long man.
Currently roster is at 15 pitchers, 18 hitters.
We will have:
Lester, Hammel, Doolittle, O’Flaherty, Gregerson, Otero, Abad, Cook (8)
Vogt, Freiman, Dunn, Sogard, Punto, Lowrie, Donaldson, Callaspo, Moss, Crisp, Reddick, Fuld, Gomes, Norris, Soto (15)
(Yes, we would all like to leave off Collapso, but that’s not going to happen for this game. Maybe next round when we need all our starting pitchers.)
That leaves room for two of:
Gray, Samardzija, Kazmir, Chavez, Pomeranz, Rodriguez, and Scribner
Parrino, Burns, and Anderson.
For a single game, I would be inclined to take two of the remaining position players, and go with only 8 pitchers.
That makes sense. It seems impossible they take Anderson. I hope Vogt can catch a few innings in an emergency.
Gotta figure Burns is there for sure. I’m just not so sure there’s a need for Parrino. Maybe Anderson, but if he’s needed, we’re screwed anyway. I suspect you see a pitcher (no idea which one) and Burns.
If they didnt put Parrino in yesterday in the 9th with a 4 run lead there is no need for him anywhere.
You’re probably right, but I want as much insurance as possible against Callaspo ending up
inon the field somehow.I agree. And I mean, everyone knows my great thoughts recently on Jud. I hope he’s coming out of it but still. But I would prefer a whole team hitting and fielding like him before I want to see Collapso. He is at the last days of SA for me.
But much like Anderson, clearly the team feels the only way he can hit the field now is if a plane crashed into the middle of the duout and he happened to have been running to the can when it happened.
Fixed.
SuSlu:
That should mean a spot for Pomeranz.
With 16 position players, they will be bringing all of their Herb Washington types. I would similarly endorse bringing Burns.
And once again Norris will need to put his butthurt aside and be ready for a big PH. Soto better be resting up that arm.
Can we borrow Chirinos for the game?
Put him in a little fat suit and I bet no one would notice between him and Soto. It’s not like either one of them is Jeter.
Has Norris complained publicly anywhere?
Not that I’ve heard.
I think Lee and Slusser said he said something to the effect of “I dont know why I’m not in the lineup, but I’m fine”. And that Melvin spoke to him after and they are on the same page.
I didn’t mean it as he was whining and complaing. And hell, ifit was me and I had started all year I would be walking around with double birds all day. But end of day if it gets us to the next round I would put my worst enemy behind the plate.
it helps that he has been hurt and playing a bad catcher. I think I would get it
I think he does. But at the same time he has never been a great catcher and throwing out runners has been an especially sore spot.
I don’t recall that, but I did hear Melvin say something about Norris “understanding”
I’m excited and nervous and already picking my outfit for tomorrow!
I don’t know why, but I initially read this as if it were written by 5Aces.
Thats just dumb. I have had my outfit picked for a day already…
muahahahaha
We get to dress down in Royals gear tomorrow at work. We are also having a nacho bar! Sadly, I don’t dress down… thinking of wearing an A’s shirt though.
You need to throw things at the Royals and make them stare at the Rallysack all day.
Went with the yellow suede monkstraps, forest green chinos, white dress shirt with clearly visible rickey shirt underneath, green tie, A’s hat.
Pics Plz
On the book of faces
boys of summer tee. yellow socks. the white office shirt that i sewed a big green pajama-size button on (and only buttoned that button). same beat up black A’s hat as usual.
I’m going with the exact same outfit I wore when we got the walk off in game 4 vs the tigers 2 years ago. Or was that last year? The Coco single? Gah, my mind is mush.
Wearing the FK jersey like I did for game 162 (which was the first time I wore it to watch a game on TV)
We’re the #2 ranked team in the playoffs!
And if you reduce the unfair beard penalty by a point we’re #1.
with more correct information on question 9, and mathematically seeing changing the answer would not affect these standings at all, finally, statistic proof that AN is of no consequence.
So wait a second here…Honoring the great fighting generals of the Civil War with a big beard is negative, but having perhaps the biggest battery of asshats in the history of the MLB does not knock you down even 1 point? I’m sorry, as an American I must disagree.
(and yes I know giving more points to the Cards does nothing but come on…)
seattle didn’t make it.
False. It refers to the TEAM referring to their fans as Nation. Not the fans referring them.
Brian Wilson’s beard should count for three.
And I’m already finding the Royals insufferable. I think it is the amount of writers in the KC area. They all have created this culture of “KC is so deserving and has had to go through so much..” It isnt like they are the Cubs. And they havent been tragic, theyve sucked.
Rany Jazeroe Posnanskerli is a maudlin thing, inn’ie?
the whole country??
The Sunday ALDS game, should we get there, will start at 4:37 pacific.
Thursday starts at 6:07 pacific, Friday at 7:07 pacific.
The Sunday ALDS tailgate, should we get there, will start at High Noon. Arm yourselves.
With wings.
be there with bells on.
just bells.
Thanks, and go As.
There will be keg.
So long as there are also A’s, that will be awesome.
Baltimore and Washington got screwed on Friday. That’s what you get for being on the East Coast but not being the Yankees or Red Sox.
pardon me for not feeling bad when A’s/Twins had weekday morning playoff games.
Thanks, and go As.
Of course.
So Kaz off the WC roster, check.
Send him ahead to Anaheim. Even though he won’t pitch there. Just get him on a damn plane.
Seriously how do you do that? And you know he will be behind the plate. Can BoMel file his protest right now?
The six-umpire setup is so stupid with the use of replay. I know it’s part of the union agreement, but they should only put four on the field and pay the other two to eat popcorn in Replay Central in New York.
How many reprimands do umpires receive in a season? Could it really be that hard to schedule one who hasn’t been reprimanded against the playoff team he umps?
Seriously. How is that even possible?
have to make the umps seen somehow. Now they guarantee it.
Someone has to be their to fuck up an interference call
Just heard there is a last minute change. Davis will move behind the plate and Don Denkinger will now be at first base.
Wait, seriously?
No. Denkinger is 78 and happish retired in Iowa says Wiki. I thought he was dead so good on him.
But yes, I figure that would be the right balance of “Hate the A’s and love the Royals” that MLB wants.
What did Denkinger do to the A’s?
Davis = “hate the A’s”. Denkinger = “love the Royals”.
People forget that Denkinger was a really good AL umpire who will sadly be remembered mainly for blowing that one call.
Honestly that is the fate of pretty much any ump who is remembered. I believe (ISV) that Jim Joyce has been named by players themselves as one of the best in the game for some time and he will always be remembered for the imperfect game.
I dont think there is any ump in the years I have actively watched that I remember for anything other than bad calls. I think the only ones period I would think of and not associate with calls are Bill Klem and Luciano. And those are just names and books to me honestly.
He was. And that was even AFTER that call.
I actually gained respect for him from all that. He made a bad call, owned it, acknowledged the cost, and apologized.
Yep. Me too. He handled it exactly like an ump should. And it’s not his fault MLB was way too slow on adding replay. If it happened today it’s a perfect game regardless of the call on the field.
Same here. He was totally human about it, which we never see. I can’t even imagine how it all would have gone down if that call was made by:
Larry Vanover
Angel
Gerrie Davis
Cowboy Joe
etc. I mean obviously it would be great because I bought my ticket to see them, but man…
I saw for the NL game they have Cowboy Joe and people were complaining about him. But I would have been fine just flipping them. That’s how bad it is, I don’t expect competency, I just want to avoid straight out conspiracy.
Please tell me she asking hard hitting questions of MLB over this. This beyond idiotic.
I tweeted her something but got nothing back. Someone has to ask at least 1 question. How hard is that?
did he ever apologize?
Does that matter?
Thanks, and go As.
not really. But I want him to know he was wrong
Bill Miller behind home plate. According to wiki, he went to high school in Santa Cruz and lives in Incline Village, so probably he is an A’s fan who will ensure an A’s victory.
Big strike zone apparently, which favors the Royals…
The first sentence of this thread is perfect.
Now please, win the fking game and keep this thing going.
How selfish of the Chiefs to hog all of Kansas City’s sports mojo for the week. Thank you!
One of the few pleasures I have left in life, and one infrequently enjoyed, is seeing the Boston Tuck-Rules getting this asses thoroughly pounded, even if it’s the Chiefs who are doing the pounding.
More Inherent Vice hype: This trailer ostensibly has a Pynchon cameo in it, as ostensibly does the film itself.
Also, I stand by my contention that Joaquin Phoenix looks a lot like Sam Fuld.
i’m not going to watch any of these. will just wait for the movie.
though, hmmm, is this him? this one seems a joke. not that he doesn’t have bunny teeth.
nunna nunna nunna nunna nunna BatJoaqin! nunna nunna nunna nunna nunna BatJoaquin! nunna nunna nunna nunna nunna BatJoaquin!
Our fairly in the grand scheme of things short regional nightmare is over. Shockingly DA is fired now that we have touched down back in America.
Mark Davis is soft. Al would have left him in England to find his own way home.
And sued him for the expense of his passport.
Al wouldn’t have fired him over the phone, either. Al would have sent him a postcard with 13 cents due.
McKenzie needs to be next. After all, he hired DA.
Here’s what I will say for RM. If he gets a new guy in here even as an interim and some if these corpses show signs of life maybe I will change my mind. There seems little reason to can him mid season so I would at least see if there is something there and DA was just that bad at coaching them.
Allen had no chance. In large part thanks to AD (RIP), but McKenzie did him and the next coach zero favors. If he makes it past the end of December, I’ll be stunned (and pissed).
if it ain’t adam, it ain’t shiff. that’s all i’m going to say about DAs.
on ADAs however, there’s so much to be said for ben stone, most of it ending with a devastating “sir.”
AV I am forced to do ADA training every years and it is the 2nd biggest waste of time around*. And I believe in it, but I in no way am in position where I have to worry about giving ANYONE an accommodation. Until stupidity and bad spelling are covered all my coworkers are screwed.
*The biggest waste is the every other year 2 hr course for sexual harassment. Like they can teach me something I don’t already know about the sexy time…
always, always listen to the american dental association and floss.
I personally want ADA Sexual Harassment training, because I’m totally striking out with the paraplegics.
Maybe if the ADA taught me how to sexually harass them more efficiently, I could finally date someone with one of those sexy modified vans with a lift!
There’s lazy. Then there’s “I want to meet someone with a modified van to have sex for me” lazy.
Oh, I’m not lazy; I’m a modified van fetishist!
if this van’s a-hydraulicly rocking…
Why can’t you be both?
Exactly. I always assume that if the options include lazy and something else that I will need to fill in more than one circle.
Dennis Allen…Non-Legend
Somehow, the A’s miserable performance during the past two months has made me OK with the play-in game. They didn’t collapse and miss the playoffs entirely, so the worst has been averted.
I doubt I will feel much better if the A’s are one and done tomorrow. But my expectations are pretty low. I have tickets to Sunday’s game, but I am not assuming there will be a game to see, Lester or no Lester. That doesn’t mean I am not excited about the game, and will skip out of work a little early so I don’t miss much of it.
But I would be lying if I said I was optimistic.
Rob Neyer picked us to win the World Series.
even after his contract with blez almost ruined his career?
Silly, everyone knows blogging for SBN *makes* your career.
… a living hell.
You should be THANKFUL that you are doing your writing and contributing there for free while they make money.
Thanks, and go As.
I generally enjoyed writing for AN and didn’t do it for the money; I did it for the audience. I considered it an accomplishment when I made it onto the Front Page. I had to quit the Front Page gig because of burn-out and the fact that the neighborhood was changing, making AN a place I didn’t enjoy spending my free time.
I only left the OC because Toonces is and was a tool. The money (or lack therein) was never a factor in my decision to not write for AN. I’d probably still be posting over there on occasion if it wasn’t for the management.
if you post it here I promise to print it out and show all my friends…does that help?
Afraid not.
Between work and my home life I don’t have the time to do the prep work I feel necessary to write a quality piece. Nowadays my comments get maybe a few minutes of review on Cots and Fangraphs before posting.
Fully agreed. I certainly got a lot out of it in the end, that’s for sure.
AN: rendering ex-lax moot since 2005.
My mind is now developing a conspiracy theory involving AN, “retired” front page writers, the Coliseum’s sewage issues and a new stadium proposal in Long Beach.
what this about long beach? are the A’s thinking about it?? i could easily move back there…
No – but it’s more proximate to Blez without being in the OC (which is too preposterous), so that’s where the conspiracy theory kicks in.
ah.
would go along with the gigantic floaters on the LB conv center.
Could certainly do something to rival the Marlins’ fish tank…
Nah, the problem was working with Grant, who is dumb and should comment here more.
Seems like a smart and psychic guy
Meanwhile, Rosenthal is evil.
I like Morosi choosing Fister as the MVP in a series against the Tigers. That pick is literally a joke.
Root hard, peeps, I’ll be joining you around the 5th or 6th inning.
Damn it, elcroata. We’re doing all that we can. We’re a doctor K, not magician.
Excellent. That’ll be about the time I won’t be able to follow the game anymore tonight.
8 pitchers and 10 infielders. Gotta love the wild card game.
and 7 outfielders/catchers. Hmm…
Big Jon Lester:
Big Bad Jon
This fun fact from Ben Lindbergh’s Grantland preview surprised me:
That’s even with Callaspo getting starts at second. Donaldson is just that good, I guess.
Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr., and A’s legend Ron Darling on the TV call tonight. Pedro Martinez in the studio, which is great. I’m glad ESPN is doing the other WC game, not ours.
Four starting pitchers for the Royals seems odd. I suppose they think Duffy is a reliever, but then why keep him and omit Vargas?
I prefer our setup to theirs. I hope none of this comes into play. Lets get 5 in the 1st and just let Lester go 9, ok?
In FSU, lake shrinks you.
Sluss:
Soto behind the plate, Moss at DH, Fuld in LF.
Thanks, and go As.
No Dunn then.
Correct.
Stupid, but correct.
Thanks, and go As.
What’s his history against Shields?
Bad. 200/300/286 in 40 career PAs.
Quick, put in Kershaw.
Wait.
Thanks, and go As.
I don’t know. Dunn hasn’t been very good. He’s still a better hitter than Fuld, but I’m cool with prioritizing defense here. I’m also cool with not benching Moss. He’s shown some signs lately.
They’ve both been pretty terrible, really.
Thanks, and go As.
You could be talking about anyone other than Reddick and Donaldson, and I agree.
I noted in the season finale with the Moss in front of Reddick thing, that Moss in the last 10 or so games has been getting on base at better than .400 of late. The swing isn’t quite there (his big hit in that game notwithstanding), but having runners on is a premium in a game like this. Though if you look at the small sample now, they’ve basically been the same hitter, so there’s that.
I would be ok with any combination of those three (although not happy about any of them.) I don’t expect any of them to do something good on offense, and Fuld in there is better than Moss in LF by quite a bit. I think there’s something to be said for prioritizing defense in what is likely to be something like a 2-1 or 3-2 game.
On the other hand, seems like the best/most likely way to score off Shields is hitting a few HRs, not by having rallies, and leaving out Moss or Dunn hurts the odds of hitting a HR. I would probably take Dunn over Moss in this particular game as Moss vs. changeup specialist does not seem good…
I don’t love Dunn vs. guy who never walks anybody either. Actually, I don’t love anyone on the A’s vs. guy who never walks anybody. Maybe Reddick.
I have a good feeling about the Moss vs. Shields matchup.
Whoa. Any thoughts on how the NASDAQ will finish tomorrow?
From the “hopefully not a sign” department: I just pulled my keys out of my pocket and my A’s keychain (present and accounted for since 2005) broke off
The broken keychain that turns our playoff elimination game luck around!
Exactly, maybe that’s what’s been holding us back.
great. now the keys to the game are all over the place.
Clearly, the “Get shutdown innings” key skittered down the drain
2012, the keys to the game, which were in my back pocket, pulled out the lucky yellow hanky also in my back pocket at the parking lot of trader joe’s just hours before the game. i didn’t notice till well after first pitch. had no time to re-lucky-snotrag my outfit. you know the rest. stupid keys.
What is our record in elimination records since then? Damn poor I’s tells you.
Okay. But what’s our first game of the playoff series record? And which takes priority?
oops, that was supposed to be a reply on the DC>GM>FSU thread just above, not me just spitting out random demands for facts…
Edit: 2-3 in elimination games, 1-3 in openers. Meh. But this is properly understood as a Game 5, not a Game 1, so 0-2 is the relevant stat.
I prefer undefeated in WC games.
We’ve played in more than 4 opener though. What you counting there?
2006, 2012, 2013. I’m only counting post-keychain series.
Pig not in the Royals lineup against an A’s lefty. Yost’s final, fatal error.
You may be right about that.
wanna edit to penultimate?
Plenty of time yet.
@gm: he was a few inches from a HR off Doolittle. I think no one would be surprised if…
Yost’ll save him for Fuentes.
Geren will foil that plan by having Fuentes meet him in the MLB network booth.
Anonymous scouting reports from division opponents:
Moss has said that himself.
I like to imagine that this one was Doolittle.
Snerk.
I always thought (and this confirmed by slugging, \) that up and away was his biggest hole, at least within the strike zone. By BA, inside is definitely worst.
No margin for error in that up and away spot though – if you miss down, it’s in his wheelhouse. Much safer to attack him inside.
Also (responding to the scout, not you) I’m not sure “slow bat” is the right description for someone who hits the ball as hard as Moss does, when he does make contact.
Yep. It’s mostly my own confirmation bias that (based mostly on recalling what I see on Gameday, since I watch very few games in person) he chases up and away a lot.
Lester hasn’t made a single pickoff attempt this season. That’s incredible.
That’s why the ones tonight will come as pretty much a surprise.
what was this then? i know it was a CS, but now i can’t remember how it happened.
Hmm, according to baseball reference Lester threw Revere out at second on a steal attempt. I guess Revere must have gone before Lester started his motion so he didn’t need to throw to first?
got it.
Pedro not loving Fuld over Dunn.
Horrible music during the player intros.
so… who feels like they got the mojo to start a WC play-in winning GT?
An annual argument for getting rid of Glen and Ray: There’s still nobody watching despite three straight postseason appearances, and the Giants outdraw the A’s 3 to 1.
But a 7% increase from last year.
they are not going to get that boost without something new. Like hiring vince and dallas braden
I’d watch that.
Enough with trying to pawn Vince off on me. Cant we just get rid of him altogether? Why you gotta hate?
Cardinals steal a win
So apparently Twin Peaks is coming back on Showtime in 2016.
someone fill me in. i stopped reading at “girlfriend’s keeping her promise.”
There’s nothing spoilerish in there as far as I could see. No idea who is coming back or joining, but likely some of both. Picking up the story 25 years later as a new story so not really a “Season 3” but not a reboot. He described it as a “new book.” It’s still early in the process.