Nothing better than baseball in Oakland, California.
148 thoughts on “Opening Day II: This Time, We’re Awake”
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Nothing better than baseball in Oakland, California.
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Was looking forward to throwing the game onto my second screen while I work away on a slow Thursday afternoon.
Alas, with it being slegnA I will instead get my first use of gamecast for the year.
It’s the first time since 1999 there won’t be any Scioscia Face leaning over the low fence next to the visitors’ dugout.
Ausmus Face is undoubtedly an aesthetic upgrade, but I doubt it can reach the heights of pathos we are used to in these matchups.
Surely all these deep fly balls will die on the warning track.
A’s first basemen now 0-for-1 in the “making routine plays” category.
the old 3-6-1
It’s good to know that in 2019 the A’s Cleanup Hitter is brought to you by Chevron, the Cleanest Gas.
Korach’s read of the extensive ad copy associated with this is surprisingly enthusiastic. What a pro.
A lead!
I’m thinking Laureano may get to spend at least a few weeks consorting with showgirls on the Strip at some point.
It does not sound like he is having a stellar defensive day.
he is not
Horrible jump on the Angels first (and until the 8th inning only) hit, over his head.
Grossman is having a nice game.
Needed more runs there
All those new “premium” seating sections above the walkway in the lower deck should have silver and black FUCK YOU MARK DAVIS banners hanging across the front.
A Semien!
a semien!
Like the cut of your jib.
There goes the chance to debate whether this would count as an “Opening Day No-Hitter”.
this is the A’s worst opening day w/l record ever
of course la stella is the thorn in the side
Perfecto vs 1-hitter in the 7th in Toronto.
No-hitter vs 1-hitter in the 6th in Minneapolis.
Jinxed ’em all!
walk calhoun. cool. way to go
If Fiers is done for the day, “one hit and no runs” is probably a better result than he deserves based on his pitching, but he did pick a couple smart places to throw in GIDP balls.
Khrushed
159 off the bat
So he’s homered in 5 home openers in the last 4 seasons.
(sorry, 4 home openers in the last 3 seasons, with a total of 5 homers in those games)
i am not sad about losing lucroy, but i still don’t like the phugley platoon
Agreed on both counts
I think I prefer Sweet Lou going 2 instead of Rodney or someone bridging us to Treinen.
No A’s starter will ever pitch more than 6 innings this year (not literally, but close) so some of Soria, Rodney, Wendelken etc. are going to have to not suck.
2 home openers
Grossman Profar and Soria Coliseum debut trifecta pays $22.50.
Excellent
Victory cabbage all around!
Positive run-differential on the season
More crisp and tidy games like that one please.
It should not go without mention that today is the 10th anniversary of the first post on this version of FK. I know there was some experimental version online a few days before that, which I assume has long disappeared. Was reminded of that a week or so ago when the 10th anniversary of the shootings of the four Oakland police officers came up in the news. It’s well past its heyday and I wish we still had more voices involved, but I’m still enjoying hanging around here while I’ve almost entirely disappeared from posting comments on the Internet anywhere else.
Hear, hear
You people, while few in number, are the best the internet has to offer.
when does the recap go up?
Are they not doing the radio highlight package anymore?
Still doing it, but Ken has unwelcome company introducing them… Ugh
Yeah, Townsend is going to be discouragingly prominent going forward.
Does townsend really add value? I mean, he is terrible to my taste, but imagine I am not his target demo. I don’t know how he is remotely appealing
I find that interesting. I know there are some people (esp in the Book of Faces) that love love love him. The crowd here seems neutral to hate.
I’ve never really heard him so I dont have much of an opinion other than most call in guys get tired really quick because they just rehash the 1-2 ideas they have come up with for the day/month/season.
I really couldn’t care less about pre/post game stuff so I’m pretty indifferent there, but I like Townsend cause he’s actually a fan of the team which is nice.
Thanks, and go As.
It annoys me when they bring him in to the broadcast during the game and it’s clear that he hasn’t been listening to Ken and Vince because his chosen subject is something they discussed a couple innings earlier. Yesterday I think the topic was all the recent long-term contract extensions. He did that all the time last year. I turn it on to catch the lineups and turn it off a few seconds after the final out, have no intention of ever listening to the TuneIn “A’s Cast” channel and never cared about the complaints about “95.7 The Game” ignoring the A’s in favor of the 49ers and Giants because I never listen to talk radio.
Roxy still identifies himself as an A’s broadcaster in his Twitter profile but it sure sounded like Townsend will take over as the sit-in play-by-play guy when Ken or Vince has a series off. I’ll give him a chance but those games are likely an opportunity to hear some other teams’ radio broadcasts.
The Mariners are pounding Chris Sale.
I wish he had saved this stinker for Oakland next week.
FSU gets a pass on alcohol-fueled vehemence tonight.
Eh, I knew this wasn’t going to be Carolina’s year. No reliable inside game, good D’s could turn them into jump shooters, and someone was bound to have a better shooting night along the way.
Christ, Estrada is throwing 85 mph. What a FKing joke.
He’s like a “suspicious package” that’s making a ticking sound.
He shouldn’t be allowed to pitch anywhere but the Coli this season.
Yeah, I can’t stand Braden in the booth.
Thanks, and go As.
Bases loaded one out seems like a good time to pinch hit for the catcher.
Sigh.
I’m at a loss to come up with one thing Hundley does well as a baseball player.
Ground into double plays?
Man on first, nobody out, Hundley at the plate, I believe we need to rethink our opinion of sacrifice bunts.
Other options depending on the inning, score and who the runner is at first:
A) Pinch-hit for him
B) Have the runner try to steal
C) Tell him to take every pitch until he strikes out (or walks, but who would do that?)
Basically have him hit like an NL pitcher.
Turn his shoulder into the first pitch that is inside?
– Has GIDPd every time he’s come up with a runner on first and 0 or 1 out (4/4)
– Only one team other than the A’s has more team GIDPs than Hundley by himself. That’s the Angels, who hit into 6 this weekend.
– Has accounted for 4 of the 67 GIDPs in the major leagues (5.97%) in just 9 PA.
What we’re saying is that even with 2 outs and no one on, he’s going to hit into a double play?
Korach just called him “a Fosse-esque catcher. Very cerebral.”
Laureano-Hundley strikeout-double play exacta pays $2.10.
remember when the A’s had a catcher that wasn’t a black hole at the plate?
Jaso? a few months of vogt?
At least 81 starts at catcher, OPS+ at least 100, most recent:
2015: Vogt, .783 OPS, 117 OPS+
2014: Norris, .763 OPS, 119 OPS+
2003: Ramon, .789 OPS, 107 OPS+
1996: Steinbach, .871 OPS, 115 OPS+
That was the last of the seven such seasons for Steinbach. The Kendall/Suzuki years were bleak, but don’t tell Ray that.
100 OPS+ is an awfully high standard for catchers.
Last year (which was a little worse than usual) MLB catchers as a group hit .233/.304/.374, for an OPS+ of 87. Suzuki was an average-hitting catcher for 4 1/2 of his 5 years here, as was Vogt for most of his tenure.
My god, why hasn’t this man been extended yet.
Khrushed!
Khrush comes in kelly green tonmight.
Nice job by Khris but that pitch looked like something I would throw.
Soria is making quick work of this at least.
At least Buchter doesn’t have to face two more batters yet?
I’m not sure why Treinen didn’t come in at any point here. He threw 7 pitches yesterday.
That’s what I was thinking before Soria even threw a pitch. With Trout due up fourth in the inning it might be a good idea to have Treinen ready and maybe worry about some other solution for the 9th inning later if that became necessary.
Looking it up in the media guide in the 2018 Season in Review section:
I’m not going to get too worked up about anything that happens before April 1 but this is putrid.
Finally checking out the “A’s Cast.” Right now it’s Fosse rambling about the 70’s. I’m into it.
Same here! Nothing we haven’t heard before, but the radio equivalent of comfort food.
one inning out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
Are glen and ray going to try to explain WAR every game?
RAY: “anyone calculate what Cal Ripkin’s WAR was? [giggles]”
now he is talking nonsense about productive outs
two innings out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
I was glad Semien didn’t try to complete the 3-6-1 double play because I had visions of a pile of Brett pieces just behind first base.
three innings out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
Great at bat for Piscotty, wait for that nothing fastball and smack it.
Mike trout is awesome. I love watching him play. i don’t wish him any harm, but that ibanez lawn dart was funny
Paul goldschmidt doesn’t get credit?
OK guys, maybe read more about baseball, you know the game you cover for a living
Doesn’t get credit = ESPN mentions, Probably right.
can cahna gete more time in left?
four innings out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
five innings out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
Yeah.
Do I hear 5.2?
six innings out of anderson is all we can ask for, yeah?
It helps a lot that he doesn’t have Kevin Kouzmanoff playing 3B behind him anymore.
Six months.
Sigh that we probably hear about Brett waking up uncomfortable tomorrow.
clearing a roster space for keuchel?
Question for FSU and PTBNL:
If you have a name that begins with “J” is it a requirement that you be called by initials?
Jah.
My co-spokesperson John, the interim project director Jim, and I have become the 3Js.
I was holding out for the Three J-migos.
ray has forgotten about japan
kendrys needs some oxygen
Every step he looked a little closer to retiring.
JB wonderkid with the nice inning.
The only reason I made that comment was I was 100% certain we wouldnt go multiple innings with the kid
Profar’s defense in the early season has been worrisome.
yeah, I don’t remember thinking that. fangraphs have him as meh. I hope its temporary
No way does Treinen get that call against a lefthanded hitter in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. He really shouldn’t have gotten it against Justin Bour at the Coliseum.
@GM only on simple throws to 1st. A 2B wont have to do that often, will he?
I prefer that Treinen not remind me of Grant Balfour but I’ll take it.
i can see 500
– Anderson looked gawdawful at first, and seemed to get steadily better as the game went on. (I guess Ed already covered this.)
– Least impressive 6 shutout innings: Fiers, Estrada, or Anderson? Probably Estrada. Still not looking forward to any of them (or our Mr. Brooks) against the Sawx.
– Wendelken was impressive. Fastball at 95, good curve at 80, right around the zone. (I guess Aces already covered this.) Until…
– Profar is on notice. (I guess GM already covered this.) I get the trade – former top prospect, still only 26 and healthy for the first time in years, could be a great candidate for a breakout. But so far he hasn’t impressed either at the plate or in the field, and he’s blocking Barreto, who seems ready.
– As far as I’m concerned, Mark Canha can flip his bat any time.fcn
– Happy bday Soaker.
– I laughed when Ken said “There are great pitching matchups in the upcoming Red Sox series!” Brooks vs. Price, Fiers vs. Sale…umm, OK.
– Not expecting Wendelken to be a carbon copy of Trivino, but Soria, Rodney and Hendriks aren’t high hurdles, and Bob is committed to Petit as a 5th-6th inning guy until injuries or suck force a change.
– Did they bring Green and Gold cupcakes down to the front row seats? Happy birthday andeux!
Yeah, Price isn’t that great.
Don’t order your playoff ticket strips just yet.
Thanks, and go As.
a proven october closer
i don’t think an own goal on an offside header is going to break you out of that slump, mo
We’ll take it.
i don’t know if he was offside, but it was pretty close.
They all count, but my god was that a bad one.
If anyone wants to ask him about the kraut, you could probably get results.
What, no more Gulden’s?!?!
The Rays taking 3 of 4 from the Astros feels significant.
@GM I replied with just that request. I stand tall for my RAF friends.
Calhoun looks an All Star whenever we see him.
“Bob Melvin, rolling the dice, pinch-hitting for his catcher when he only has one other catcher on the bench…” – Fosse
.500
AL West:
n/a
Oakland 3-3 —
n/a
Houston 1-3 1
n/a
Montas needs a nickname. Frankie Magic? Frankie Five-Fingers? Frankie Mont-yes! Frankiestein’Monster?
Frankie Magic is great and I will now hear it regardless of what everyone else votes on.
Frankie Mont-Ace
frankie moon toss
I feel like this is what we’ll be calling him after a trip to Fenway.
My vacation condo neighbors wear Red Sox gear 100% of the time, an A’s series win would really help me out here.
Great start!
I have the front row tomorrow, so I’d especially love to see it continue too.
Is your Red Sox friend sufficiently immiserated yet?
Bring them some donuts tomorrow morning.
Malasadas.