It all started when I Enticed the Lone Sailor to join me for an A’s game against the Orioles. It was a tough sell, he was more of a movie buff, one of those snobs who goes on about the last Noble Indy film he saw. But I had Instilled Regard in him for the old ballyard, notwithstanding the stench of Firenze Fire from the clubhouse tunnel. That plus some deep swigs of Vino Rosso and we were heading in.
For an effete film fan he quickly took to the role of abrasive hometown Combatant. “You suck, Solomini! Go back to Hofburg, Mendelssohn!” His heckles clearly Audible through the empty yard to each Baltimore batter. “Flameaway,” I egged him on, fueling his vitriol with a 24 ounce Magnum Moon and talk of the glory days of My Boy Jack Cust. “Shocking moonshots from out of nowhere, like a Bolt d’Oro. A classic A’s pickup off the scrap heap by Free Drop Billy Beane.”
As drunk ranting fans will we had totally lost track of the game, until the cheers of literally dozens erupted around us. “Bravazo” screamed the erudite fans as news of Jesus Luzardo’s latest gem scrolled on the scoreboard. As if we had to Justify fleecing the Nats.
My Promises Fulfilled, I left him to wander alone, drinking deeply of the Good Magic in the Oakland night air.
"Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
Brad Marchand just licked another guy.
Live odds.
Center cut fastball leaves yard quickly.
Mengden was born to wear the Kelly Greens.
His fake stirrup socks are hideous though. The “stirrup” doesn’t even go down to the top of his shoe.
Wow. Those do look silly.
The Machado at SS thing is weird.
Gotta find a way to get Danny Valencia into the lineup.
Khrrrrrrushed
Khrushed!
Olsoned
Mattered!
The difference in energy level between Stew and Braden is pretty dramatic.
Is it bad that I would like Stew to just stand up, hover over Braden, and tell him to calm the fuck down?
Thanks, and go As.
I like Braden, but he could do with taking a few ticks off of the fastball every now and then.
Balti-less is in quite a tank-off with Cincinnati. I loved how on the side-shot replay of the Olson homer, there was a woman in an orange jacket in the background burying her face in her hands.
1-0 Vegas on goal with 3 seconds left in first period, ouch,
And now 3-0 after two, worst period Sharks have played since the Game 1 debacle, could easily be 5 or 6 goals down but for Martin Jones.
I haven’t noticed any particular Nevada pride about the Golden Knights. The Bay Area MLB, NFL and NBA teams are what I see in clothing, bumper stickers, etc., nothing about hockey. Reno and Las Vegas are rivals in the way the Bay Area and LA are. I do get the games on AT&T Rocky Mountain but I don’t watch the NHL on TV at all.
They’ve filled the arena every night at least, supposedly most of em working locals. It’ll be interesting to see how that goes long term; I’m sure the Raiders are watching.
FWIW, when we were there during the Kings series I had a conversation with a young guy working where I had breakfast, and he had been at the double OT game the night before. Said he’d never been to a hockey game or had any interest until this year, and now he’s all in. He said the start of their season came right after the mass shooting, and it’s been a real point of pride for the locals. That’s the kind of thing that can lead to life-long fandom.
How big is the football stadium they’re building for the Raiders?
65K
That’s probably a good size. Smaller stadiums that are high end seem the way to go to me.
I’ll be surprised if they’re always filling the place after the first few years but that may not matter as much to their revenue.
I don’t know anything about the Vegas market. Until recently it never occurred to me that it was the type of town that would have professional sports. It’s been a strange year for me giving up the Raiders cold turkey. I didn’t watch any NFL football last season. I played a lot of golf on Sundays.
So you’ve been making the cuts!
Heh. Yeah, I’m 23rd in the Fed Ex Cup standings.
Come on, Glen.
I don’t think I’ve heard Braden at all this year, whether he’s at field level or in the booth, and that’s the reason.
Braden just asked if Pujols would go in the HOF as a Cardinal or an Angel.
Depends, the baseball hall or the sports agents hall?
Four innings from this bullpen…
Need a Valencia GIDP.
With Petit out with one out in the 6th, Casilla is going to play a role in this.
Well maybe they can squeak through this with 1 IP each from Dull and Treinen.
Trivino instantly becoming a reliable high-leverage guy is a stroke of luck for BoMel.
FWIW, Pagan had 3Ks in two clean innings in his first AAA outing.
Pretty lousy challenge attempt there by Buck.
Hey, defense.
Sharks woke up to score 3 and make it close, at least.
Insurance pays 2:1
Especially with Treinen having thrown close to 40 pitches a couple nights ago.
Victory, w00t!
.500 on May 4. The Dream lives on!
2017 4/25
2016 5/1
2015 4/22
Progress!
Primera backers: She’s going with My Boy Jack (10). As apparently are many; his 30-1 morning line has plunged to 5-1.
Much obliged.
I reach a point in my Kentucky Derby handicapping when I think I have it figured out. The attributes of the horses I like make it seem certain they’ll hit the board; the flaws of the horses I’m tossing are surely insurmountable. Then I remember this is the Kentucky fucking Derby, with the chaos inherent in a 20 horse field, and the talent in this year’s group runs especially deep. Plus it might fucking rain. https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/Louisville+KY+USKY1096:1:US
To the extent I have any cogent philosophy here I’m probably a pace handicapper, and I’m convinced it will be moderate. The field only has one true rabbit, Promises Fulfilled (3), likely tracked by Flameaway (4) out of the gate, but neither seems likely to go so hard as to melt down the field. That plays to the strong suits of horses that like to press just off the pace, and works to the disadvantage of deep closer types. So I’m ready to take a stand for three horses I feel might win.
Justify (7) is the favorite at 3-1. Only three horses in this field have run 100+ Beyer speed figures; he’s done it three times this year. The knock on him is that those are his only three races ever…no horse unraced as a two year old has won the Derby since Apollo in 1882. But clearly the best in 2018 to date, the equine cognoscenti are drooling, and more importantly he has a great post position and style for the probable moderate pace.
Audible (5) at 8-1 won the Florida Derby in March with his best race to date and may improve beyond that. Has shown a versatility of racing styles which could suit him well on this crowded track. The worry is that he’ll get boxed in with the large group looking to press around the first turn, but is Audible can emerge from that in good position I expect he’ll be right there at the end.
Good Magic (6) is the horse I like the best at that tantalizing 12-1 price. He’s shown 100+ speed before and several the trend analytics tools says he’s primed for his best run ever. Like Justify and Audible (and Montgomery Clift, honey) he has the right profile and post to be vying for the lead in the final furlongs.
There are some excellent horses I won’t be using for reasons, any of which could upset my applecart. Bolt d’Oro (11) is the third horse to have posted a 100+ Beyer, and was right there gamely against Justify in Santa Anita showing good late speed. But he hasn’t crossed the line in 1st in three races (one win by DQ). Mendelssohn (14) apparently ran a spectacular race in the UAE Derby, blowing away the field while setting a track record. But no shipper from overseas has ever even hit the board in the Derby, and with his outside post I say the Kentucky dirt in his face leaves him well off the podium. And Magnum Moon (16) is a perfect 4-0-0 this year, but like Justify was unraced as a 2-yo and to me has the wrong post from which to buck a 136 year trend.
My ticket: I will throw this out and simplify greatly if the track comes up sloppy and wet approaching the 3:46 PDT post time. Assuming a fair track:
$10 across the board (W-P-S) on #6 Good Magic, total $30. Love the value here, I really do think he’ll hit the board and possibly win.
$5 across the board on #5 Audible, total $15. Like the value here.
$1 Trifecta with 5,6,7 over 5,6,7,11 over 5,6,7,11,18,3, total $36. Puts my top three picks in a trifecta box plus possible place/show by Bolt d’Oro (11), and possible shows by Vino Rosso (18) and Promises Fulfilled (3). The Derby in recent years has tended to go chalky, but with a longer price horse sneaking into the Trifecta for big payouts.
$1 get-rich-quick Superfecta with 7 over 6 over 5,11,18 over 5,11,18,3,8,10,16, total $18. Adding Lone Sailor (8), My Boy Jack (10) and Magnum Moon (16) to the back end.
That’s $99, so WTF a $1 cold Superfecta 11/5/18/8 to make it an even C-note.
We’ve had light drizzle off and on all day up here in Cincinnati, for what it’s worth.
Off to the store for bourbon!
Now it’s pouring over on the Ky side of the river. Preparing my alternate mud ticket.
It’s looking like a wet track is certain and sloppy likely. So I’m going for a lower stakes, fewer variables ticket:
$5 across the board on #6 Good Magic, total $15, couldn’t forgive myself if I bailed and missed this horse now.
$5 across the board on #8 Lone Sailor, total $15, great odds on a proven mudder.
$5 Exacta with #7 Justify over 5,6,8,9,10 (Audible GM LS Hofburg My Boy Jack) total $25. Justify has a wet track win, so leverage the best horse with others I think can rise to conditions.
$1 cold Trifecta 7/8/10
$1 Superfecta 7/8/10/5,6,9,18 (Vino) total $4 for a $60 investment.
Eddie Olczyk: It’s tough to handicap when the track is off and boy is it off right now.
They just ran the last dirt track race before the Derby, sloppy, won by a 39-1 shot with a 31-1 and 21-1 rounding out the trifecta.
TV pundits think My Boy Jack moving to 5-1 is pretty nuts.
In my 15 or so years of paying close attention it’s by far the biggest odds drop I’ve seen. And it happened a few days ago. There must’ve been some really big bets, like 6 figures.
After 2.3″ of rain it’s now the wettest Derby ever, overtaking 1918.
Plus $10 Win Good Magic. Don’t want to have the right horse and not cash in.
$213.50?
Not a bad day’s work.
Yes, my connections and I are pleased. though the original non-mud bet slate would’ve paid off better.
Obligatory 3rd julep in annual link.
The best part of a sloppy Derby Day is the swells in their finery splashing through the mud and horseshit.
Oh, and a baseball connection: In my teens the preferred dugout swear was horseshit. e.g, “That was a horseshit call.” I wonder if that’s still true.
I always hear the word horseshit in Earl Weaver’s voice. And I dont really remember his voice, so thats still so weird.
Aidan O’Brien, the legendary Irish trainer here with Mendelssohn, is humble and appreciative and understated, i.e. wildly out of place. USA! USA!
$2 on Vino Rosso
is that the new 2-buck chuck?
Apparently.
These Ashley Judd pieces are really heavy with subtext.
Hey, lookit Cahill striking out the side!
It feels odd we haven’t heard more about Ray’s absence.
I think they said something the first night along the lines of he had to leave town for a family matter.
Well I hope Ray and family are ok.
Braden just used his new platform to make a fart joke.
actually kinda close on the steal
safe
Ooh, thought we were gonna lose that replay.
It’s like we got an ace as a late non-roster invitee.
I’m wearing my sweeney jersey to the next game
It’ll be amazing if Petit’s arm is still attached by July.
this inning doesn’t seem like its necessary
The Chris with a C Davis contract extension is not looking good.
Hope that dugout pipe wasn’t load-bearing.
“load bearing, heh heh” /Beavis
So, what are Maxwell’s strengths exactly?
liked by teammates
Well, that’s the most important thing.
They better or he’ll draw on them.
Sounds like he’s NFL ready.
T H I C C
Thanks, and go As.
Glad to see melvin not afraid to bring his closer into a tied game in the 9th
If Nolan Ryan pitched now he’d average 4 strike outs per inning.
is maxwell catching?
I hear he’s well liked.
Looking at the schedule, Canha could realistically keep wearing the balaclava straight through the early June KC-Texas road trip.
Gausman for the 9th?
OK buck
After watching these ads, I’m still undecided between the pizza that you take selfies with and the pizza that comes with insurance.
Letting Casilla face Machado seems unwise.
I’m never going to understand why hitters don’t bunt on extreme shifts.
just a run. a single run
out
These teams might not have a run between em no matter how long they play.
The Orioles are providing a lot of wind power tonight.
Hatcher is warming up. Better win it now lads.
Surely we could use Smolinski instead.
Current sports seemed defined by strike outs and 3 pointers.
At 3:15 through 11 innings this is briskly paced, as stultifying scoreless games go.
If Craig Gentry is still in the Majors then baseball isn’t quite ready for expansion.
Bruuuuuuce.
I imagine if this was someone’s first baseball game they would likely dedicate their future free time to the arts.
who are theses guys!?
I celebrated Cinco de Mayo in the traditional way by eating Pho and listening to Phil Collins.
Khrushed!
Krushed tater pie!
That’s more like it. An exciting ending to a boring game.
Chris Hatcher is 3-0.
He’s a winner!
17-16… that’s not bad after a 5-10 start. If the pitching is decent then this might be a fun season.
Nice that Jed! got on base with a solid single before the Khrush, it just felt better as a 2-run homer.
The main reason I came down today was to snag a pair of those sweet Stomper Socks tomorrow. The A’s fed me well with giant bowls of Special K and a delicious slice of pie to go.
The A’s only whiffed 11 times themselves? It felt like we were getting close to 40 combined, guess not though. It looked like Treinen gave it a try in the bullpen and said he didn’t have it tonight; that’s when Casilla got up. The thought of Hatcher and Font somehow staggering to about the 17th inning against that Orioles offense was getting kind of depressing, so thank goodness for Khris.
you got through 2 innings of casilla and thought it could get worse?
Bassitt only pitched two innings last night for Nashville. Pulled despite only throwing 31 pitches. A little ominous.
(Gossett threw the last seven innings, striking out nine, walking none, and giving up only a solo homer. His AAA ERA is 1.05.)
I mostly tune out athlete comments to the media about, well, almost anything. But props to Draymond for his “not over the line” answer about Rondo. So many guys turn hypocrite in that situation.
I didn’t realize the Coliseum now features Fried Crickets as a snack. Dang, now I’m sorry I had a big breakfast. I look forward to some FKer’s review. Or maybe Canha has already checked in.
The Stomper Socks are so awesome, I think I’ll leave them in their hermetically sealed package and admire them until they go on a swag exchange table along with last night’s Black Panther bobblehead.
I would wear Stomper socks, even as ridiculous as those look, except I bet they’re also cheap and thin and itchy.
My kid got some Hunter Pence socks at little league day at AT&T last week. They are terrifying.
They so much should have been underpants.
Here is the website for Oaktown Crickets.
Lowrie sits after they got 2 hits in 11 innings last night. NO-HITTER ALERT.
Buck has 7 of 9 batters at .209 or lower and his starter’s ERA is 9.68.
LOL that was horrendous.
he got a good jump. he is just slow
Soaker was referring to Alvarez’ defense at third earlier in the inning.
Yes, and while this is fun the A’s play a lot of actual major league teams in a row starting tomorrow so I’m afraid reality gonna set in quick.
so much bad baseball to choose from
the difference between chris davis and jack cust is jack cust walked and didn’t cost $187M
Dull hasn’t even warmed up in two straight tight games hmmmmm
Uh, they gave Chris Davis how much to protect Machado?
7/$161M
He banked 3.3 WAR in the first year of that, so he may not be able to match the -4.5 WAR that Ryan Howard put up during his last 6/$150M contract extension. Both were predictable even when they were signed.
Tittle can’t take calls in the postgame because they don’t have phone lines for 1550.
That is hilarious. He should give out his cell #
Went hiking today, on returning to car at 3:15 was amazed to find it was the 9th inning already. Another brisk game. Also 1550 came in fine from Marin to Berkeley.
When the Sharks outplay Vegas they often emerge with nothing, as in that first period. When Vegas outplays SJ they score two or three times.
And two uninspired periods later out go the Sharks, soundly beaten by a much better team.
From my seat a good series for Hertl, Sorenson, Couture and Jones, and subpar for most of the other Sharks. In particular a lousy series for Pavelski and Burns, in my not-a-hockey-knower opinion.
Sounds like Piscotty’s mother passed away yesterday. RIP.
Thanks, and go As.
Once the end is obvious, best that it happen quickly. That’s what my mom did, and it sounds like it’s what happened here.
Smolinski is already sitting around doing nothing (actually he’s doing nothing when he’s standing up too), so I’d think Barreto would be the choice, to give Semien a day or two off.
However, Barreto is listed in the Sounds’ starting lineup for their afternoon game, as is Fowler to answer that question.
Luzardo Watch (yesterday’s game): 5 IP, 7 Ks, 1 BB, 1 R, 3 H. The run scored on a Rougned Odor double.
Battery-mate Sean Murphy also hit his fourth homer and is slugging .600.
Does this work with baseball too?
To demonstrate the truth of their belief that laws can’t keep guns out of the hands of criminals, the next NRA president will be a convicted felon.
Daily mail link warning but dang Let’s Go Oakland!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5700811/Jessica-Simpson-PICTURE-EXCLUSIVE-blonde-beauty-Daisy-Dukes.html
We need way more backstory on this. The whole crew is in A’s gear!
Looking amazing needs no backstory.
I’d put money on her kid being on an A’s t-ball or little league team.