My ambivalence about the A’s is at levels not seen for decades. Yet still, I hate the fucking Red Sox. Boston has not yet scratched the surface of the despair I hope their 2015 holds in store. Fuck the Red Sox.
Warriors up eight after the first quarter, but it’s a hard fought lead. Memphis is not going away easy. After the W’s have won the championship they may look back on the Grizz as their toughest opponent.
Burns Crisp Reddick Butler Vogt Davis Lawrie Semien Sogard. And Kazmir, Prestidigitator du jour.
"Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
For the first time in 6-8 quarters the Warriors offense looks in sync a little bit.
A bit. Yes.
This is what happens when both Curry and Klay can shoot.
Steph is not FKing around tonight. I still can’t believe he went for the dunk the second time after nearly blowing it the first.
It’s a lot more than that though, Klay and especially Steph have found space with the ball inside 18 feet tonight, which opens everything else up around them.
And they actually remembered to pass the damn ball.
Doesn’t Porcello sound like a type of mushroom?
Cured meat.
Italian pork liquer.
Hah, that’s perfect. Garnished with prosciutto.
Yes… yessss… I can feel the old hatred washing over me again…
This will be one of the smaller Coliseum crowds for a Red Sox game since the turn of the century. The smallest was 17,434 on 7/2/2012. They’ll probably announce more than that, but 20K would be tough to hit, probably putting this game in the bottom 5.
These two games should not both be in commercials at the same time.
As much as they’ve talked about “The President’s Suite” I am beginning to believe that no one actually ever buys it.
Vince Carter looks about 100 pounds heavier than I remember him from his Carolina days.
He cannot move at all.
Also, the Warriors appear to have reanimated the carcass of David Lee.
Now this looks more like the team that was the class of the league this year.
I just popped in and briefly deluded myself into thinking you were talking about the baseball team.
Go with it. Enjoy the moment.
you were!
BOOBIES
Also, I’m curious if there will be any butt-hurt over the booing of the Sexual Assault Panda.
Also also, Butler!
Given the change in California law since his rape, could I execute a citizen’s arrest from the front row seats tomorrow night?
Biscuits and gravy!
Lew Wolff has finally obtained an A’s jacket which is appropriate to his stature and the cold Coliseum nights. Took him what, 10 years?
I really, REALLY, want to spank the shit out of that Dodge monkey.
The whole concept is just weird.
catch the damn ball
It’s almost like other teams don’t respect the A’s defense.
I saw these plays all Saturday. but the team I was rooting for tied it and made the playoffs
fuck. I hate those two.
Well, Pedroia was busting his ass on the basepaths, which is more than you can say for the way Burns played the ball in the outfield.
yeah, he did ok. just don’t like him
Saturday tickets bought!
Now…
what are the odds Semien will stop with the errors by then???
Excellent! Will you tailgate? There will likely be a keg of FKer-brewed bitter.
There will be tailgating on Saturday; gives me a chance to catch up with folks plus I need to give Bryan $$$ so I might have his Sunday tickets.
What are the tailgating plans for tomorrow?
Rendezvous any time after 1 pm in the usual location in north parking Lot A, row 12, closest to the BART tracks and (John Jaha Cove at Johnny) Damon Slough. Somewhat limited grill space, but at least one is supposed to be there as well as plenty of previously prepared foods. In the event of directed parking shenanigans, we will attempt to get as many of us as close to that space as possible and update via Facebook etc. Usually, the directed parking enforcers respond well to a firm “I’m with that group over there”.
So fairly standard plans. Thanks!
So the wife and I aren’t going to make it until 3-4 PM; I saw ice mentioned as an always needing more item for the tailgate but is there anything else that might need replenishing by the time we arrive?
We’ve got plans for non-grill food (I’m needing a good pastrami sandwich and she gets anything she likes!) but I’d like to bring extra snacks for the group.
The magic of the tailgate is that there’s always a lot of grub, and yet there is always room for more. So anything you see at the supermarket will be fine, but if you don’t see anything appealing don’t worry about it.
I can see lew thinking “how much does a short stop cost”
who am I kidding, he is thinking “where are my red vines?
If by “red vines” you mean “jugular veins of street urchins” then I agree.
I like your style.
Sandoval playing for that team has certainly helped reignite my hate of the Red Sox.
Doesn’t hurt.
call cps
Sayeth Lord Tyrion: Oh, fuck me.
Holy shit, Lawrie has 3 BBs to 40 Ks???
red bull gives you swings
I realized last night that Lawrie is pretty much Bobby Crosby part 2.
But don’t worry he’s only 25! And Donaldson is old. Fuck.
I get trading Donaldson.
I don’t get not shopping him around and fixation on Lawrie.
I’ve been thinking about this stat for nearly 24 hours, and it hasn’t gotten any less shocking.
As it happens, I was looking this up earlier yesterday and calculated this:
SSS, but Brett Lawrie’s SO/BB ratios:
TOR – 2.46
OAK – 13.33
And, Brett Lawrie’s PAs for every SO, and every BB:
TOR – 6.11 per SO, 15.06 per BB
OAK – 3.25 per SO, 43.33 per BB
Put your pants on Canha.
fuck. take him out so he can score on a double play
good job marcus. act like ortiz
I had to teach the new intern how to start an IV and clean wounds today. He’s dreamy.
It’s discouraging that when Davis came up lame, my first thought was to see what Daric Barton is doing. (Barton is doing…nothing? Did he get hurt?)
Buffalo DL.
Davis hurt?
yeah, was running slowly on the double. should have been taken out, then we would have 3 runs
I don’t think this is true. Davis froze to wait until the Lawrie liner had cleared the infield. Any baserunner would have done the same.
oh my god. ramiez was playing on the foul line.
burns needs a steroid program stat
Heh, so I’m guessing teams have figured out how to play Burns.
gak. hate that
Oh good, the bullpens will be a factor in this game.
Suck it, Pederast
Coco!
Now time for him to get off the schneid.
I like coco’s ‘that aint a strike’ pose
That was one dumb pitch but Stephen Vogt is really something.
no more even stephan
Damn, the pitches all look like volleyballs to Vogt right now.
In the NFL you get suspended for that!
LOL
Hah hah hah Ortiz!
McAdoo minutes.
That means victory!
really Napoli? running?
Kazmir was running on fumes that inning.
I don’t know what the red sox have to bitch about. If a loose piece of clothes can be a hit by pitch then a loose pant leg can be a pick off. With a proper tailor, he’d have been safe.
Hah hah, Sandoval giving Ortiz a run for the most foolish looking fat guy prize that inning.
Argh! Torched by Coco. Since when was Mike Napoli able to do that?
Well, they do put out oil well fires with dynamite, right?
sure
Wrong throats.
Why did I flip the channel over to this.
Uh, Ray, the cutter is not good if it is up.
Also, FK Team Dynamite.
at least the one betts his was hard
Remember when Glen and Ray were talking about how the bullpen would align to close out a one run lead in the eighth and ninth innings? That was quaint.
semien is in high school?
is that why?
WTF Semien? Why keep standing there in harm’s way?
Also, fuck.
I like how Betts tenderly laid his hand on Semien’s ass there to comfort him.
“It’s not your fault the A’s keep forcing you to be a shortstop.”
Abad in? TV off.
we got this.
did not recognize that hair.
hi craig!
The smartest blown save in baseball!
yale v cal
Bet on the bear.
Good thing I don’t believe in gambling.
Will he be the final retread relief pitcher we obtain before the ship rights itself? The Last of the Mujicans, as it were.
asvd!
Ha.
Stick it to your old team, Mujica.
how come eddie is not walking backwards from the mound with both birds flying?
That would’ve been the most epic A’s debut ever.
OMG what the fuck was that!?!
Ray is just talking in free verse now.
Seriously, the last two sentences had like 15 hanging dependent clauses crying for conclusion.
I think he’s going senile.
Shame. Boatloads of shame. Day after day. More of the same.
What, you’re watching the game?
AB lyrics.
Fitting, though
How’s about we win this mothersucker?
I would like to print every copy of the Taco Hell ad with the little screaming bastards out on rolls of Charmin, then use said Charmin to clean up after the cafeteria at my workplace serves a very greasy chile verde.
Come on Sogard, win this.
Yuck. Lawrie, Semien and Sogard. Just yuck.
Fuck that rapist.
Castro has some stuff but in no way is he ready for a big league mound.
The worst thing is he made that guy look terrible on the first pitch by bouncing a pitch up there – why not try that again on 0-2?
I’m gonna beat the summer rush and just say FK this team.
Maybe the Raiders will be good this fall.
Man.
My theory: the baseball gods were offended by the non-playing of Celebration on Opening Night, and have determined the appropriate punishment is not to give us many other opportunities for celebration. I believe we might have to sacrifice half of the pixels in the new scoreboards as atonement.
You know how sometimes we wanted the A’s to just suck for a few years so we can could get a few high draft picks for once? This is what we get for thinking such thoughts.
The baseball draft is a pain. The A’s will have to be this terrible all season just so the team can draft a guy who Billy is likely to trade next year. Big deal.
In the meantime, we get this. I was spared most of it because I watched the Warriors game to the end, but then the game had to go extra innings.
so, semien. maybe work on some things?
Like… 2B?
Thank god my buddy’s new lady has a daughter that can get us in to see Avengers on IMAX for free. I may have lost my mind watching this.
FSU, well played that 34 had Fingers in the title. If it was accidental pls never tell me.
I’m thinking I need to set up a keyboard shortcut to say the same things for each game. Play defense, Team Dynamite, god when will Z and Doo be healthy.
Re Doolittle, I was expecting him to be a week or so into a rehab assignment by this time, but since it’s only about to begin I think Nashville’s Fresno/Sacramento road trip is in his near future.
I am hoping so.
Well wait-I really hope he is ready before that. But if he has to rehab somewhere I want him in Fresno for that series…
Yes, deliberate. If only we’d have thought of this for game 13 and shown the Royals our Blue Moon.
The A’s list of #35s has some great names on it too.
I feel rather dumb for not seeing it right away.
I had to explain to a friend who is a lady once that she should probably not choose a jersey that would say “34 fingers”. #TMI
i’m saying she’s still 966 short of 1000.
I saw that movie (The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T) when I was little and it scared the crap out of me; the giant piano key staircase figured in my dreams for years. Then I saw it again a few years ago and thought it was charming…but weird.
oh right. 5000. not 1000.
and definitely weird.
3-21!
Reach for the stars!
At this point I want to avoid it being 128 meaningless games playing out the string of a lost season. I look forward to sifting through Graveman, Bassitt, Nolin and Leon with 15 starts each in the big leagues and seeing what’s quality and what’s junk. I hope Zito is enjoying Nashville, he and Mills and others can keep the Sounds fans entertained through their season. They get to keep Canha, can endure Semien and find out if he’s a shortstop or has to go to some other position, can get an extended look at whatever legitimate position prospects are in the high minors (Wendle among those of interest). I’m fine with filling out the big league roster with Angel Castros and Sam Fulds but the less I see of them the better.
IF we plan on sucking this season, I want to give the Spiders a run for their money in order to secure our draft position. In the process, absolutely give guys a shot and see what we have.
If the A’s suck and we still don’t see Venditte I’m going to be pissed.
so much this
Is there believed to be an epic player at the top of the draft class this year? A Trout/Harper/Stanton type? Because if not, fuck draft position.
Kiley McDaniel wrote about 2016/2017 draftees a little while ago for fangraphs. I’m sure that a lot will change between now and next summer, but he seemed to think it was a pretty strong draft class. That doesn’t mean that there is a can’t miss #1 though.
Fair point.
Also…
look to trade Zobrist, Kazmir, Davis, Clippard by early July.
Chavez and Reddick can also be shopped.
I haven’t completely given up on the A’s contention possibilities this year, but at 10 games under .500 it’s quite a bit more than a hypothetical and it’s easy to see the casket being lowered by the beginning of June. I would think 18 or so Kazmir starts would fetch a pretty decent return. Already today there’s a Boston Globe article, linked from MLBTR, speculating about him as a Red Sox target.
I haven’t given up either but the bullpen and defense are starting to convert me.
I’m willing to believe but some evidence to back the faith would be beneficial.
As far as I’m concerned, every time they lose because of bad defense and bullpen meltdowns, the more it says to me this is not just a good team with bad luck, but more of a bad team on the surface.
Sure, a large part of it is mental. When it keeps happening, it’s hard to get out of the mindset of just waiting for more bad luck, bad play, bad pitches, or whatever.
There’s no doubt a great or terrible record in one-run games has a lot of luck behind either extreme, but the more you win the more certain you are you WILL win, and vice versa. It’s tough to shake when it’s going against you.
he seems like a bad fit for fenway
Doo too
His contract makes him a pretty good value even with the A’s not contending this year or next.
Also makes him a more valuable trade asset. And if we’re rebuilding the last thing we need is a Proven Closer
If Doo can show he’s a Healthy Closer than I agree.
Let’s not deal pennies on the dollar again.
Agreed. But that may mean having to wait and aaaawful long time to prove if he’s never given an opportunity to close.
Works for me.
Deal Clippard mid-July. Doolittle closes for the rest of the season and gets dealt next winter.
Sure, it’s definitely contingent on getting a fair return. Soaker is totally right that we can afford not to fire-sale him.
Well, technically we can afford not to fire sale any of them.
Not really. Someone like Kazmir turns into a pumpkin once the trading deadline passes.
Yes, but we can technically afford to keep him. He’s worthless at that point (assuming he’s not eligible for a pick, etc.), but financially speaking, we don’t have an “albatross” that we need to fire sale if we’re not contending for a few years. The closest thing we have to a fire sale need would be Butler.
You wouldn’t offer comp after the season? 1 year 14-15 million? I would and then take the picks.
That is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of untried prospects or to take arms with compensatory action in the face of a possible second half fade.
Depends on the dream of the prospects. Perchance JBJ and Cecchini?
Between knocking up my wife, a two week vacation in Italy and getting ready for the upcoming season… I’m behind on my prospecting.
I was underwhelmed with Cecchini at the end of least season and his early 2015 performance is down right terrifying.
I don’t see Beane selling until mid-June anyways; I figure he’s got his scouts focused on the June 8 draft and won’t want to divert resources from that.
If we’re really blowing it up (not something I advocate), then may as well shop Lawrie too.
While I know there’s not a chance in Hell of recouping even half of what we lost to acquire him, I’m not willing to sell at what I perceive his current value to be.
For myself, I’m going to enjoy this season come hell or high water, just like any other.
This. We only get so many baseball seasons during our time on this Earth.
Although, more than the errors or even the bullpen, not having Korach around has made this one tougher than most to enjoy.
you’ll enjoy it…at a later date.
it’s funny that he has the most voice over work he has ever had this year. Including the one that has him say “when I am not calling baseball, I…[something I don’t remember, good job copy people]”
I will feel this way again when we can win a couple of games in a row. When we start to hit the skids like this it just pushes me over. Especially when it has been the same show every single night. And no matter how much the players want to avoid it, it also feels exactly like the second half of last year.
I am not a huge fan of the chemistry, play the game the right way school of thought. But in times like this I feel like you need a Balfour or someone who is going to go apeshit and do something crazy to get folks to stop thinking every mistake is a “here we go again”. (we could also use a CG 2 hitter)
I hear that. The thing that keeps me going is that they are in every freaking game, and they keep rallying back from deficits. This isn’t some 2011 shit where it feels like once they fall behind it’s over. These guys can hit, and they have guts and heart and whatnot. They just keep dropping the ball and the relievers are ass.
Something needs to be shaken up. And adding a random Angel Castro isn’t enough
IBISV
So, of the 30 teams that have earned a postseason berth in the 3 seasons with 2 wild cards, 4 have bottomed out at 6 games under .500 or worse:
1. 2013 Dodgers: -12 (30-42). Won division by 11 games.
2. 2012 A’s: -9 (26-35). Won division by 1 game.
3. 2014 Pirates: -8 (18-26). Won a wild card by 6 games.
4. 2012 Tigers: -6 (26-32). Won division by 3 games.
It can be done, but they need to turn it around real soon.
R.J. Alvarez may have left Oakland, but he hasn’t left Team Dynamite.
This poor guy.
The A’s have never been afraid to be cold in these matters, but damn.
It’s ok, the Rangers will pick him up.
It would be a lot easier for me to just ignore Donaldson’s exploits if he weren’t absolutely carrying my fantasy team.
Whoo hoo, Coco! Nice hose!
They installed one while they had his elbow open.
DoctorK us, DoctorK us
DoctorK us, DoctorK us
DoctorK us, DoctorK us
Ooooooooooh DoctorK us
get your loss off me, you dirty A’s!
I hate every A I see,
From Abad, F to Zobrit, B.
Oh, they’ll never make a Rally Monkey out of me.