Pitch, Catch, Report ← FREE KRAUT!

Pitch, Catch, Report 336

It begins.

336 thoughts on “Pitch, Catch, Report

  1. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 17,2021 9:43 am

    Hopefully Frankie Magic gets well soon. Silver lining: maybe they’ll let him take steroids again.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • 5Aces Feb 17,2021 10:22 am || Up

      COUGH COUGH…Can I get an injection please?

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  2. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 9:51 am

    I’m looking forward to finding out how one collapses a lung during the offseason.

    • andeux Feb 17,2021 10:23 am || Up

      COVID -> pneumonia -> collapsed lung
      seems like one possibility.

      TINSTAAFK
    • andeux Feb 17,2021 10:52 am || Up

      Or

      Murphy required the sudden procedure after he “just woke up one morning and couldn’t breathe very well,” Melvin said.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 11:21 am || Up

        Hope whoever he woke up next to was ok.

        • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:52 pm || Up

          Whips and chains! Handcuffs!

          "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
          • 5Aces Mar 3,2021 4:36 pm || Up

            Chips, dips, chains, whips. I mean Im not talking candle wax on the nipples or witchcraft…

            Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
            • AV Mar 3,2021 6:40 pm || Up

              your basic high school orgy type of thing.

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 3:01 pm || Up

        Gah.

  3. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 9:52 am

    • 5Aces Feb 17,2021 11:05 am || Up

      Puk may be more frustrating than Harden. At least Rich had some stretches before he would be shut down and sent to throw from 180 feet.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 11:19 am || Up

        Harden is still the Flat Ground Throwing champ for me. Puk may get there in a few years.

  4. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 11:27 am

    Sigh, I guess today’s the day I have to finally unfollow Slusser on twitter. I can’t take minute-by-minute Giants workout updates.

  5. andeux Feb 17,2021 2:55 pm

    TINSTAAFK
    • Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 3:00 pm || Up

      I had somehow forgotten that ESPN put him on their NFL coverage. So crazy.

      • 5Aces Feb 17,2021 3:06 pm || Up

        did you also know he worked for the Royals before he hit it big in radio? A true multi-sport cretin.

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 17,2021 3:19 pm || Up

          The one time I dined at the fabled Fleur de Lys in SF we got seated at a table near the door to the kitchen. There was one other similarly “bad” empty table near us, to which Rush Limbaugh was soon ushered. We chatted a little about baseball. It was at a time when expansion/realignment was under discussion, and he wanted KC to join the NL so they wouldn’t have the DH.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • andeux Feb 17,2021 3:07 pm || Up

        I didn’t know that he had worked for the Royals. Figures.

        TINSTAAFK
  6. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 3:16 pm

    I would be so down for a vaccine tailgate right now.

    • AV Feb 18,2021 12:39 pm || Up

      i was there. didn’t see you guys.

      did a shot and left.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 18,2021 1:11 pm || Up

        Way to go AV! Let me know how the microchip feels.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • andeux Feb 18,2021 1:17 pm || Up

          My brother, who lives in the mountains in Colorado, told me that he wasn’t worried about the microchip because they don’t have 5G coverage up there anyway.
          (He was kidding.)

          TINSTAAFK
          • AV Feb 18,2021 1:42 pm || Up

            i don’t feel it.

            other than all the borg voices in my head.

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • doctorK Feb 26,2021 3:36 pm || Up

      I had to settle for Levis Stadium.

      The 5G chip must’ve been working, because driving home, I hit every light green on Tasman between the SC Convention Center and Fair Oaks Avenue.

      • Glorious Mundy Feb 27,2021 2:58 pm || Up

        You get the latest firmware update yet?

        • andeux Feb 27,2021 3:05 pm || Up

          Not to mention the risks of traveling back in time.

          TINSTAAFK
          • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:53 pm || Up

            I can haz 1989?

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • doctorK Feb 28,2021 8:54 pm || Up

          Damn thing wore off the next day.

  7. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 4:57 pm

    Nate Orf retired. Update your mental rosters accordingly.

  8. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 17,2021 7:12 pm

    Watching back-to-back Warriors games for first time this year and

    1. Crap no Draymond this will be a challenge, and
    2. OMG those Miami Heat uniforms!

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • AV Feb 17,2021 10:07 pm || Up

      2. hypercolor!

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 17,2021 10:43 pm || Up

        They look like the survivors of a tragic gender reveal party explosion.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 9:42 am || Up

          They looked like boxes of xtreme flavor Nerds.

  9. Glorious Mundy Feb 17,2021 7:34 pm

    Love the Warriors but I’m watching Serena.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 17,2021 10:41 pm || Up

      I bailed at halftime and watched a documentary instead. I stand by the decision. #FreeBritney

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 9:41 am || Up

        I caught the last bit of the Warriors game. That turned out to be the good part.

        Watching Serena was kind of sad. It shouldn’t be surprising that she got overpowered by Osaka at her age, but still a bummer.

  10. colin Feb 18,2021 6:39 am

    Takes him into his mid-thirties. Equivalent would be giving a 9 year contract to Chapman… which I would support.

    • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:54 pm || Up

      I assume that’s why we haven’t signed any good players, right? Saving our money for the Chapman deal? Right?

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  11. Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 7:09 am

    Good signing but have they considered he doesn’t get to face the A’s now?

    • andeux Feb 18,2021 8:47 am || Up

      Kind of funny that he and Ranger-killer Khris Davis have now swapped places.

      TINSTAAFK
  12. andeux Feb 18,2021 8:42 am


    Fisher found his wallet?

    TINSTAAFK
    • mother pucker Feb 18,2021 8:55 am || Up

      That’s getting pretty close to Semien money.

      • mikeA Feb 18,2021 9:23 am || Up

        Yeah, if they can afford this, not doing the QO doesn’t make much sense…

        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 18,2021 10:00 am || Up

          Rosenthal probably failed to read the fine print which structures the deal like a mortgage. He’ll get $30K per month for the next thirty years.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • andeux Feb 18,2021 6:36 pm || Up

            TINSTAAFK
      • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:55 pm || Up

        I’ll be sad to see Semien go, but at the same time dude had 1.5 good years, looking not-good before and after.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 9:13 am || Up

      Spending all of the Andrus money this year. Probably doesn’t bode well for next year, but I was already expecting him to blow it up then so YOLO I guess.

    • Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 9:36 am || Up

      No word on his confidence and consistency from these sources?

    • lenscrafters Feb 18,2021 11:03 am || Up

      Quick math:

      Khris + Rangers money = 16.75 + 13.5 = 30.25 total freed up

      Elvis: 14
      Rosenthal: 11
      Moreland: 2.25
      Romo: 2.25
      Petit: 2.55
      Fiers: 3.5

      Total expenditure: 35.55

      If half of the Rosenthal money is deferred, they will roughly come out even with what they were at pre Khris-Andrus trade. I’m giving credit to the FO for creatively making the best of a shit situation more than Fisher suddenly feeling magnanimous.

      The sad thing is that they’re probably still a little worse than what they ended with last year:

      Marcus -> Elvis: significant downgrade
      Hendriks/Soria -> Rosenthal/Romo: slight downgrade
      Grossman/Khris -> Moreland/????: wash
      LaStella -> Jed/Kemp: hopefully wash

      But this is not an indictment of the moves, like I said it’s the best you could reasonably expect them to do. If everything breaks right, we get roughly what we had last year with a ~20% discount over last year’s non prorated payroll. Fisher should be fking worshipping the ground Beane/Forst tread on.

      • vignette17 Feb 18,2021 11:30 am || Up

        True talent wise? Maybe they’re worse than last year. But 2020 performance wise? Semien + Grossman + Khrush + LaStella + Hendriks + Soria were only worth about 4 wins in the shortened season. Half of that was the bullpen guys. I wouldn’t be shocked if proper platooning for Moreland and a return to contention for Andrus could get the new guys to equal that performance.

        2021 will boil down to Chapman/Luzardo/Montas/Murphy development.

        • Future Ed Feb 18,2021 12:49 pm || Up

          and AJ Harden

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • 5Aces Feb 18,2021 12:53 pm || Up

            <3

            Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
          • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:57 pm || Up

            I’m still convinced he’s going to break out in 2019.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • mikeA Feb 19,2021 12:31 pm || Up

          Andrus will finish with a sub-.600 OPS at the Coliseum.

      • lenscrafters Feb 18,2021 7:27 pm || Up

        So per andeux’s tweet, just 3 million committed to Rosenthal this year. Total expenditure: 27.55

      • lenscrafters Sep 14,2021 8:48 pm || Up

        In retrospect, passing on Semien, then trading for Elvis to free up money to sign 5 old guys for 2-4 million each (almost totaling Semien money) really is as fucking stupid as it sounds.

        • Soaker Sep 14,2021 9:00 pm || Up

          Obviously Semien for Elvis was a huge blow, but one they could have survived if the Rosenthal bet had worked out. This is a pretty good bullpen if Rosenthal pushes everybody down one step on the ladder. Instead, the bullpen sucked big time at the beginning of the season, then got it done through the middle 90 games or so with smoke and mirrors and enormous assistance from nice performances by Irvin and Kaprielian. But, the collapse from mid-August on was inevitable and overdue. And now Rosenthal lingers for the next two years, not that I think the difference between 94 losses and 98 losses particularly matters.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
          • nevermoor Sep 17,2021 5:48 pm || Up

            It was just such an easy call. Even last year, his numbers were down but all the suck was concentrated in the early part of a very strange season. After that, he was good again.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • Future Ed Feb 18,2021 12:47 pm || Up

      I mean, super, but, what the?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  13. Glorious Mundy Feb 18,2021 9:10 am

    A politician as odious and inept as Ted Cruz should not be able to exist outside of laboratory conditions.

  14. vignette17 Feb 18,2021 10:10 am

    So when do the A’s sign Cespedes?

    • lenscrafters Feb 18,2021 8:20 pm || Up

      There’s definitely still room for a right handed DH/OF/2B. Moreland pushes out LH options like Brown, Barrera, and Tom.

      Against lefties, they’re lining up with Canha, Ramon, Piscotty, and Pinder for 3 OF spots, DH, and 2B so there’s one guy missing. Unless we want to pencil in Jed as the DH, there’s a hole here.

      • Future Ed Feb 18,2021 8:34 pm || Up

        Jed who? Is he getting on the field?

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:57 pm || Up

      And maybe Frank Gore on general principles?

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  15. Soaker Feb 18,2021 4:36 pm

    AAA schedules are out. For the Aces, anyway, the series are all 6 games, Thursday thru Tuesday with Wednesday off every week, except there’s one 4-game series Thu.-Sun. before the All-Star break. No announcement about tickets yet but there’s a good chance I’ll see some games in Reno before any in Oakland. Aviators vs. Aces in Reno, May 13-18.

    What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • 5Aces Feb 19,2021 7:07 am || Up

      Grizzlies have the same concept but Monday is their day off. It will take getting used to 1) the last start in the lower minors and 2) seeing all the area towns that haven’t been on a Fresno schedule since the 80’s. I may try to time dropping the lilest Ace at his mom’s with a series so I can head out to the Chuck.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 19,2021 7:20 am || Up

        I think it might be more fun trying to spot the future big leaguers fumble around at a low A game than watching a more competent AAA game.

        A funny thing about Fresno is that it is probably the biggest park most of them will ever play in.

  16. Future Ed Feb 19,2021 9:53 am
    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  17. Future Ed Feb 19,2021 10:06 am

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  18. andeux Feb 19,2021 10:06 am

    Johnny Damon: DUI with .20% BAC (or .30% according to a different report) on a Friday morning. In Florida, of course.

    TINSTAAFK
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 19,2021 10:12 am || Up

      Is it OK to boo him now?

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • andeux Feb 19,2021 10:13 am || Up

        When wasn’t it?

        TINSTAAFK
        • Soaker Feb 19,2021 10:40 am || Up

          Huh, I thought his A’s OPS would have been higher than .687, but I probably confused him with Jermaine Dye’s last couple months in 2001.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
          • Glorious Mundy Feb 19,2021 10:47 am || Up

            Damon was extremely awful to start the year, got a little hot in July and August, and then was just kind of meh at the end.

          • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 1:58 pm || Up

            Sure, but as long as we all agree Holiday didn’t smile enough…

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 19,2021 10:50 am || Up

          There was a (fake) controversy from Game 5 of the 2003 ALDS, when Red Sox fans claimed that the Coliseum crowd booed Damon as he lay injured on the field after a collision. I was sitting in the bleachers that day and heard no such thing.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • mikeA Feb 19,2021 11:01 am || Up

            Is there an “unwritten rule” about whether it’s okay to boo someone as they’re being taken into custody for DUI?

          • ptbnl Feb 20,2021 11:36 am || Up

            I was booing Dye making the last out at 2nd during that play.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 10,2021 11:15 am || Up

      • Future Ed Mar 10,2021 11:30 am || Up

        Body worn cameras have been a blessing in so many ways

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 10,2021 12:40 pm || Up

        Yeah, they really discriminate against Trump supporters in Florida…

        Also, no one reaches a .30 BAC without either a massive frat-hazing-level binge, or more commonly through regular daily heavy intake. So the far more likely truth is that he has avoided previous arrest by virtue of his fame and/or Trump love.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  19. Soaker Feb 19,2021 10:37 am

    It looks like the NHL will luck out on the weather for the two games at Edgewood this weekend, mostly sunny after a minor storm goes through tonight. Sometimes in the winter there can be an icy wind right there along the lake shore but the wind is supposed to be light as well. Now they just need to keep the four teams away from Covid and out of Roethlisberger/Trump type issues for the next couple days.

    What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • andeux Feb 20,2021 2:51 pm || Up

      A bit too sunny.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Soaker Feb 20,2021 3:24 pm || Up

        LOL. Playing at night misses the point just a little bit. It’s not like it’s 70 degrees. What the heck were they expecting?

        What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • Soaker Feb 20,2021 6:48 pm || Up

        This one still has me shaking my head. The point of playing an outdoor game in a scenic setting is to show off the scenic setting. That doesn’t happen if it’s snowing or low clouds are obscuring the mountains; all anybody could see then would be the gray lake next to the rink. So they get what seems to be a perfect day, fresh snow in the early morning, sunshine, no wind, temperature below 40°F, probably a glare issue for those on the ice but that’s it. The type of day we see here I would guess 3 times a week on average in winter. And their faux ice machinery apparently wasn’t up to the task of dealing with it. C’MON MAN.

        It’s now down to 26°F, and dropping, at Chateau Soaker, a couple hours before the game resumes. If I hear one complaint about how cold it is, grrrrr. Oh, and now it’s just any old regular season hockey game that nobody except fans of the two teams cares about, with a zero-scenery black backdrop.

        What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  20. batgirl Feb 19,2021 1:20 pm

    I’m not sure I could get to a level of rich or entitled where I could behave like this. If I go get a haircut and it’s not short enough I even have trouble saying “can you go a little shorter?”

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 19,2021 1:36 pm || Up

      I think you have to be born to wealth to hope to reach that level of entitlement. All of Jeff Bezos’s money can’t buy him out of a working class youth. I hope that’s true anyway. Waiting for a lottery jackpot to come my way to help test the theory.

      Also, the standing order of a well-done steak with a Diet Coke is prima facia evidence that no amount of money can buy you class.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • AV Feb 19,2021 1:40 pm || Up

        the only thing worse than a well-done steak is more well-done steak.

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  21. Glorious Mundy Feb 20,2021 8:58 am

    It’s an article of faith now among Chronicle columnists that Howard Terminal is dead, needing to be recited even in a column unrelated to the ballpark.

    Make no mistake, they remain a club with no future. Fisher has seen to that, in tandem with a stressful pandemic and the won’t-ever-happen Howard Terminal project. But this team has an intensely loyal fan base that expects to see good baseball on the field. For 2021 — which is really all that matters in these difficult times — they’re going to get it.

    Later in the column Jenkins complains that women tennis players who grunt too loud “leave no pleasant memories.” Great stuff as always, Bruce.

    • Glorious Mundy Feb 20,2021 12:15 pm || Up

      Oh, I missed this Jenkins Gem from a couple days ago, describing LaMelo Ball as “a decidedly goofy kid, hardly the studious type, and when he speaks, it’s a raw soundtrack from the streets.”

      • Future Ed Feb 20,2021 1:55 pm || Up

        bark bark bark bark woof woof woof

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
  22. Glorious Mundy Feb 20,2021 9:55 am

    Interesting, a venture fund that invests in minor leaguers owns a piece of Tatis’ career earnings.

    Big League Ad­vance uses a pro­pri­etary al­go­rithm to project the per­for­mance and earn­ing po­ten­tial of play­ers, in or­der to es­tab­lish a set amount it would be will­ing to pay a player in ex­change for each per­cent­age point of fu­ture MLB earn­ings that player is will­ing to give up.

    For in­stance, if Big League Ad­vance of­fers a mi­nor-lea­guer $100,000 up front for 1% of his earn­ings, that player can then de­cide to ac­cept $500,000 in ex­change for 5% or $1 mil­lion for 10%. A player val­ued as highly as Tatís could re­ceive a cou­ple mil­lion dol­lars from Big League Ad­vance. In his first two sea­sons with the Padres, Tatís earned less than $800,000 in salary.

    Investors in the fund include Paul DePodesta.

    • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:04 pm || Up

      Don’t those usually have a lifetime cap, too (so if you hit a Tatis-ian contract you only pay back like !0-20M)?

      It seems pretty damn logical to me.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  23. andeux Feb 20,2021 4:45 pm

    Michael Zagaris is on KPFA during the dead marathon talking about this photo that he took of Jerry Garcia and Carlos Santana at Bill Graham’s house.

    TINSTAAFK
  24. Future Ed Feb 20,2021 10:47 pm

    This seems bad

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • AV Feb 20,2021 11:35 pm || Up

      :/

      i’m not sure quakes correlate with how rainy mountains get.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  25. Glorious Mundy Feb 21,2021 5:53 pm

    What better place to cop to service-time manipulation, reveal non-public contract negotiations, and insult your Latino and Japanese players for not speaking good enough English than a zoom call with the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club

    • Glorious Mundy Feb 22,2021 1:50 pm || Up

      And…resigned.

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 22,2021 4:01 pm || Up

        I was going to post a Costanza trying to get fired gif but remembered the Mariners don’t have a WS trophy to drag around the parking lot.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  26. Glorious Mundy Feb 22,2021 8:44 am

    Always good to feel Athletic.

  27. Glorious Mundy Feb 22,2021 9:13 am

    I was certain we had already cut Fowler loose at some point last year. Anyway, good luck, Dustin.

  28. Glorious Mundy Feb 22,2021 4:23 pm

    Please Hammer, don’t hurt ’em.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 22,2021 4:47 pm || Up

      I’m glad someone still waves the banner of dialectical materialism.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  29. Glorious Mundy Feb 22,2021 5:42 pm

    Hell yeah

    • AV Feb 22,2021 8:36 pm || Up

      meh.

      i’ll wait for foreign margarita day. those are better.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  30. batgirl Feb 23,2021 6:15 am

    Like clockwork, I spend the entire off-season getting pissed at the A’s and then the first articles start coming out about Spring Training and I’m wearing my A’s tee and excited all over again. I never learn!

    • Glorious Mundy Feb 23,2021 12:06 pm || Up

      Every year around this week, the first golden poppies spring forth in my garden and I forget that I hate this baseball franchise.

      • AV Feb 23,2021 12:53 pm || Up

        wait till you try the purple poppies.

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 23,2021 12:54 pm || Up

        In due time, round about August, the geraniums will wither and die.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:08 pm || Up

      Think of it this way: we already used our one-series-win-per-decade last year, so it’s all gravy from here.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  31. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 23,2021 8:29 am

    Between Texas Republicans suddenly concerned about energy bill gouging and Josh Hawley at hearings about the Capitol siege it’s going to be a big day for the hot dog guy meme.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  32. Glorious Mundy Feb 23,2021 8:38 am

    Blackburn fly….

    • doctorK Feb 23,2021 8:49 am || Up

      “Take these broken wings and learn to fly.”

      OMG, Sir Paul was prophetic about future A’s pitchers!

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 23,2021 9:29 am || Up

        He was only waiting for this moment to be free.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  33. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 23,2021 12:49 pm

    Damn, I really wanted Tiger to make a late career run at Jack’s 18 majors. Now I’m hoping he can walk again. Multiple compound leg fractures sounds very bad.

    I imagine that Ed has driven Hawthorne down in RPV many times.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • 5Aces Feb 23,2021 12:55 pm || Up

      About 5 miles away from Casa de Aces (in the poor direction..). That road is a bit curvy but nothing that would cause you to flip and need the jaws of life unless you were FLYING and/or tipsy.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
    • Future Ed Feb 23,2021 8:47 pm || Up

      There used to be a really good record store in lomita. Used to go there on my lunch hours whenI worked for the city of lawndale.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • 5Aces Feb 24,2021 6:41 am || Up

        We dont even have a grocery store now.

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
        • AV Feb 24,2021 10:18 am || Up

          as long as alfredo’s is still there.

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
          • Future Ed Feb 24,2021 10:50 am || Up

            not gonna click and its already stuck in my head

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • 5Aces Feb 24,2021 11:32 am || Up

            In all my time here I still have not gone there*. I need to fix that this weekend.

            *I did try to get delivery once but the driver said they were closed, which seemed really weird.

            Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  34. Glorious Mundy Feb 23,2021 1:08 pm

    Luis Suarez in the stripes of Atletico Madrid is one of those “just looks wrong” situations.

  35. Glorious Mundy Feb 23,2021 3:27 pm

    Zaidi signing Scott Kazmir in 2021 got a genuine LOL from me.

  36. Glorious Mundy Feb 24,2021 8:23 am

    Yikes

  37. Glorious Mundy Feb 24,2021 10:12 am

    This just landed in my inbox. RIP A’s Access for 2021.

    With Opening Day soon approaching, the anticipation for the season is building and we cannot wait to welcome you back to the Oakland Coliseum. While we are still facing uncertainties about when we can safely open the Coliseum to fans, we are feeling more optimistic about the possibility as our communities are now receiving vaccinations. When fans are allowed, it will be at limited capacity, and we will follow social distancing guidelines as required by our state and local health officials.

    Given the current health and safety restrictions for events due to the ongoing pandemic, we are planning for capacity restrictions for the entire 2021 season and defined “pod” seating for fans. Once we are allowed to welcome fans to the ballpark this season, only single-game tickets will be available. We are also planning significant changes to our concessions in line with public health guidance. To accommodate these modifications and operate safely for our fans, we must discontinue our A’s Access season ticket program for the season. As a result, current membership agreements are terminated and all monthly auto-payments currently on pause are now canceled.

    Even with these changes, because of your 2020 membership, you will be given exclusive priority and special offers to purchase single-game tickets. You can use any unused ticket credit in your account for individual tickets this season or roll your membership credit into a 2022 package. Additionally, we will continue to provide you at-home baseball benefits this season, including complimentary MLB.TV and MLB app subscriptions and a shop discount. You will receive more information on these offerings later this week.

    In addition to single-game tickets, we’re also launching A’s FlexTix, which allows you the flexibility to purchase tickets now and choose the games later. A’s FlexTix vouchers can be redeemed for any available game this season. You’ll also have priority to redeem your A’s FlexTix before the general public.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 24,2021 11:14 am || Up

      Going single-game tickets only for 2021 makes sense, given the uncertainty. But their email is notably silent about the balance left on accounts from previous unplayed games, like the 2019 postseason. Since the A’s make the point of saying they’re cancelling all agreements, I wrote to demand that they refund me the balance. They better say yes.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • andeux Feb 24,2021 7:38 pm || Up

        Let me know what happens. I stupidly let them keep my money from last year, and also see no reason I shouldn’t get it back now.

        TINSTAAFK
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 25,2021 8:44 am || Up

          Got an email last night saying they’ll refund the balance back to the credit card I used.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • Glorious Mundy Feb 27,2021 5:35 pm || Up

            You still get the free MLB.tv?

            • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 27,2021 8:10 pm || Up

              Should still be the same as any other A’s Access member, just calling in my interest-free loan.

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:10 pm || Up

            Not surprised. They were very open about all of this with me (leave money, get discount on future tickets, we have no idea what that will look like exactly).

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • Glorious Mundy Feb 25,2021 11:57 am || Up

      Apparently tickets for any given game will only be available in sets of two or four. So if you usually go as a group of three (as I do), you have to buy four tickets and eat one.

      • Glorious Mundy Feb 25,2021 12:07 pm || Up

        Curious how they are going to enforce this. All tix in Ballpark app with sharing completely locked down (meaning one person in pod carries all the tickets)?

        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 25,2021 12:56 pm || Up

          Interesting, on the surface it would seem to disincentivize buying much in advance, since in the olden days if your plans fell through you could recoup costs on the secondary ticket market. For me it suggests a return to my old approach, last minute decision to go, count on available walk up tickets (bought electronically).

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:11 pm || Up

            I wonder how much of it is regulatory. I have to imagine there are political negotiations going on about this.

            "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
            • andeux Mar 3,2021 2:26 pm || Up

              Just saw this:

              TINSTAAFK
              • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 3:22 pm || Up

                Yeah. I don’t see why the A’s would abandon one of the things they are great at (flexibility to sell tickets) out of any reason other than a need to promise contact-tracing or similar political requirements.

                "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  38. Glorious Mundy Feb 24,2021 10:30 am

    Hold on to your butts.

  39. AV Feb 24,2021 5:04 pm

    got a (spam) email from adjunct nation just now and i flinched.

    realized it was a different AN because they emailed *me*.

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  40. batgirl Feb 26,2021 6:54 am

    I got all excited when I saw Khris Davis in the opening credits of Judas and the Black Messiah, but I gather there is an actor of the same name.

  41. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 26,2021 10:51 am

    A’s baseball on the radio Sunday at noon! I am planning my entire day around this. Yes, I am needy.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Future Ed Feb 26,2021 11:08 am || Up

      Do we know who will be working on things yet?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • andeux Feb 26,2021 11:14 am || Up

        TBA.
        I think Bob said the other day that they wouldn’t use any of their main starters for the first week or so.

        TINSTAAFK
      • andeux Feb 26,2021 11:16 am || Up

        TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 27,2021 8:35 am || Up

    • 5Aces Feb 26,2021 12:38 pm || Up

      Sweet Jesus the Dodger feed is being televised. I may get to watch A’s baseball this weekend!!

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 26,2021 12:48 pm || Up

        Rambling Rick Monday stories about Charley Finley incoming.

        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 26,2021 1:57 pm || Up

          Together they coined the term Bonus Baby.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • 5Aces Feb 28,2021 8:16 am || Up

          If we have the A’s radio feed I might test options to have the radio on a secondary source. Aces is working on things…

          Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • elcroata Feb 28,2021 12:34 am || Up

        Another advantage of spending winters on the Canary Islands – one fewer hour of time difference, thus the earlier game start times for me.

        Because survival is insufficient
    • Soaker Feb 27,2021 9:47 pm || Up

      I envision the My Favorite Martian antennae popping out of Fisher’s bald head when he heard that the Blue Jays are having their TV crew’s broadcast simulcast on radio this year, rather than having separate radio announcers. “What, I wouldn’t have to pay Korach for the same job Kuiper does? Let’s look into this!”

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  42. Future Ed Feb 26,2021 7:23 pm

    Most of you probably saw this but in case you didn’t

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 1:12 pm || Up

      Essential thread

      • andeux Mar 1,2021 7:27 pm || Up

        TINSTAAFK
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 1,2021 8:03 pm || Up

          Every local city requires affordable housing mitigations now, which can be met with on-site units, off-site units, or by paying equivalent fees. That quoted statement is true of any project even one-tenth the size of HT. Standard stuff.

          The big value of the Coliseum in this regard is that they bought the land dirt cheap. Let’s say Oakland negotiates the deal to require 200 affordable units, or payment of an $50 million in-lieu fee (either of those would be very high). Having bought the Coliseum land at a deep discount, the A’s can build those same 200 units for less than half of what the fee would be.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  43. Future Ed Feb 26,2021 7:46 pm

    700 word and no mention of LPs coming from Europe. Entered the US 1/9/21, and still hasn’t arrived. I worry the fate of the this record is going to be the same of one that I ordered last year and was terribly warped in transit.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • colin Feb 27,2021 9:45 am || Up

      That doesn’t sound promising. I media mail’d an LP earlier this month to Miami, where it was getting picked up by a courier for transit to … somewhere else. Still waiting for final confirmation from the buyer that he received it.

      • Future Ed Feb 27,2021 7:49 pm || Up

        The domestic stuff has been getting to me pretty regularly.

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:15 pm || Up

      I ordered some lego pieces without noticing the store was in Europe (because the price was right and shipping was cheap). Took ~3 months to arrive.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • Future Ed Mar 8,2021 11:20 am || Up

      it has arrived this morning and seems to be in decent shape, will listen after the children’s schools

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  44. elcroata Feb 28,2021 12:32 am

    I’ve sent a little thank you package to sslinger for his help with getting me the WSJ hard copy with my crossword in it, and another package to my former host parents, both in mid-November. I don’t think either arrived.

    Because survival is insufficient
    • sslinger Feb 28,2021 10:41 am || Up

      I was going to send my thanks to you today as we just received it. In fairness, we just drove back to Berkeley so it may have sat on our front porch for a while, hard to say. But thanks for the cookies – they taste like Christmas!

      • ptbnl Feb 28,2021 11:15 am || Up

        You’re back! I have something for you …

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • sslinger Feb 28,2021 11:50 am || Up

          Yes, we’ll be here for a while so hope to work out times to connect with people.

      • elcroata Feb 28,2021 1:18 pm || Up

        Cool, happy that it made it to you. Um, Merry Christmas?

        Because survival is insufficient
  45. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 9:04 am

    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 9:35 am || Up

      dear Bob:

      Andrus is what they call “2nd leadoff” or 9th. 8th with kemp in the line up.

      Cheers

      Ed

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 11:39 am || Up

        The offense may have some holes but we have an abundance of options for the 9th lineup spot.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • ptbnl Feb 28,2021 11:42 am || Up

          They’ve spotted a market inefficiency and are stockpiling.

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  46. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 10:25 am

    The Nationals and Cardinals are wearing identical shades of red tops. I’m already annoyed by this baseball season.

  47. sslinger Feb 28,2021 11:51 am

    Did they move today’s game to 1:00?

    • andeux Feb 28,2021 12:03 pm || Up

      No, it’s on.
      No Ken today though.

      TINSTAAFK
      • sslinger Feb 28,2021 12:11 pm || Up

        Thanks, I’ve got it, Interesting that MLB is going to show it at 1:00.

        • Soaker Feb 28,2021 12:16 pm || Up

          Only 2 hours between FL first pitches and AZ first pitches until Daylight Saving Time starts.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • Soaker Feb 28,2021 12:31 pm || Up

        Ken’s absence is likely because they’re doing all the Hohokam games on regular radio (no Donnycasting) so he can’t do his usual of commuting down from Vegas for the weekend. Vince did say he’ll join later in Cactus League play.

        What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
        • andeux Feb 28,2021 12:34 pm || Up

          It made the decision to just watch the Dodgers TV feed easy.
          I’ll get plenty of our radio crew on weekdays.

          TINSTAAFK
          • Soaker Feb 28,2021 1:06 pm || Up

            You’re missing Fosse’s PxP poetry.

            What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  48. andeux Feb 28,2021 12:11 pm

    Daulton Jefferies looking good early.

    TINSTAAFK
  49. Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:12 pm

    where do i get world series tickets?

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  50. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 12:16 pm

    Ray in full propaganda mode saying “I don’t think they could have gotten a better shortstop to fill in” for Semien.

    He’s also already asking where he can get snacks. Midseason form.

    • andeux Feb 28,2021 12:21 pm || Up

      Didn’t they say Elvis was giving baserunning tips to some of the younger players?
      (not intended as reply)

      TINSTAAFK
  51. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 12:19 pm

    Did Vince just say “they really were trying to keep Marcus?” Could I have heard that correctly?

    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:22 pm || Up

      yup. but to be fair, the ray fosse bingo line was funny

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  52. Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:25 pm

    Shout out to the kid on the berm with the phegley jersey

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • andeux Feb 28,2021 12:30 pm || Up

      Don’t run on Reed!
      (not intended as reply, damn it)

      TINSTAAFK
  53. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 12:30 pm

    Don’t run on Reed?

  54. Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:33 pm

    oh good, silver commercials all year

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  55. 5Aces Feb 28,2021 12:34 pm

    Reed has the hose.

    Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  56. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 12:35 pm

    Pat Boone, Ed?!

    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:40 pm || Up

      I didn’t hear if it was. I just heard old man voice saying I should check out the prices

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Future Ed Mar 1,2021 12:50 pm || Up

        yes. Pat boone

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 12:54 pm || Up

          Tells you something about the audience demographics for the Oakland A’s Radio Network.

  57. 5Aces Feb 28,2021 12:38 pm

    Austin Allen in true Athletic mode already.

    Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  58. andeux Feb 28,2021 12:45 pm

    Weems working on things.

    TINSTAAFK
  59. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 12:49 pm

    Kaval’s talking point seems to be that there are “no show-stoppers” in the DEIR. Not sure what that means but it sounds good.

  60. Future Ed Feb 28,2021 12:50 pm

    I hope reed hits left handed and is actually really good, that may have been challenged

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • andeux Feb 28,2021 12:55 pm || Up

      Lefty, check.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 1:01 pm || Up

        if he can see 3+ pitches every at bat like that might be useful

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 1:13 pm || Up

      Bats switch, throws…

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 2:21 pm || Up

  61. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 1:04 pm

    Vince, Ray, Dave Kaval, and Buddy Reed all in mid-season form.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  62. Future Ed Feb 28,2021 1:06 pm

    Jimenez is a rule 5? Is that why he didn’t get a new glove color?

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  63. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 1:07 pm

    Pinder switched to the Carney/Miggy/Coco #4 jersey.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  64. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 1:11 pm

    Fosse thinks putting Andrus in the second spot in the order makes this team the 1984 Tigers somehow. I didn’t really follow the logic.

    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 1:22 pm || Up

      I can pick the trottters

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • andeux Feb 28,2021 1:27 pm || Up

      You bat your SS 2nd and he magically turns into Alan Trammell?

      TINSTAAFK
  65. andeux Feb 28,2021 1:20 pm

    We have reached the why don’t they have names on the back part of the pitching staff.

    TINSTAAFK
    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 1:23 pm || Up

      This needs to change. I really really dislike this. Even the giants are going to NOTB

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • andeux Feb 28,2021 1:38 pm || Up

        I think #80 scored our first run. Tall guy.
        Not listed on the roster or the NRIs.

        TINSTAAFK
      • nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:18 pm || Up

        I mean, for these guys do the names convey information to you?

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  66. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 1:34 pm

    First step to getting out of a hole is to stop digging. Also applies to radio play by play.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Future Ed Feb 28,2021 1:35 pm || Up

      is ray even trying to dig?

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Soaker Feb 28,2021 1:42 pm || Up

        I don’t mind Arizona Ray. It’s about hearing baseball chatter, not crisp description of the on-field action.

        What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  67. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 1:38 pm

    Vince needs to relearn how to say “Vimael”.

  68. Soaker Feb 28,2021 1:52 pm

    I’m interested to see which MLB manager will be the first to violate an unwritten rule by invoking the written rule of ending an inning after 20 pitches.

    What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • andeux Feb 28,2021 1:53 pm || Up

      My money is on Kapler.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 2:02 pm || Up

        According to the Chron this morning, the rule is even weirder than I understood.

        “I would hate to roll an inning with bases loaded, two outs, or something like that,” Melvin said. “It doesn’t seem like it’s in the spirit of a game, especially when you have fans in the stands that are there to attend a game and root for their team”

        Teams will have an option to remove a pitcher and send him back into the same game later on, so they could replace a pitcher after 20-plus pitches without ending the inning. “I’m hoping that’s the way we would do it,” Melvin said.

    • andeux Feb 28,2021 2:02 pm || Up

      TINSTAAFK
  69. FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 28,2021 2:07 pm

    OK bottom of the 7th walkoff time.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  70. andeux Feb 28,2021 2:09 pm

    Soderstrom is skinny for a catcher.
    Listed at 6’2″, 200.

    TINSTAAFK
  71. Glorious Mundy Feb 28,2021 2:13 pm

    A’s batters worked on things.

  72. andeux Feb 28,2021 2:14 pm

    TINSTAAFK
  73. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 9:01 am

    Chapman DH today

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  74. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 11:16 am

    ynoa looked good for the phillies, also, MLB.tv has a lot of A’s content on their “flashback” series that airs between innings, unfortunately it’s all as the losing team

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  75. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 12:07 pm

    Grant Holmes seems to have already worked on things

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  76. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 12:22 pm

    160 foot pop up triple.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  77. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 12:25 pm

    walking Dee strange-gordon is pretty moiod season form though

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  78. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 12:59 pm

    Kozma with a home run. I mean, it might give me hope id Andrus hadn’t been acquired.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  79. Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 1:02 pm

  80. andeux Mar 1,2021 1:05 pm

    – Briefly excited by the first A’s HR until I realized it was Kozma.
    – Too bad Noe isn’t on the Angels anymore.
    – When Olson crushes a HR, please tell me that, not that it was “past the shift,” Vince.

    TINSTAAFK
  81. Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 1:34 pm

  82. sslinger Mar 1,2021 2:05 pm

    Apparently the Reds don’t have access to Sports Center and gave Buddy Reed another chance to show off his arm.

    • Future Ed Mar 1,2021 2:13 pm || Up

      and now a homme run

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 2:20 pm || Up

        not a femme run?

        • Future Ed Mar 1,2021 2:30 pm || Up

          gender neutral, but this is as homme as it gets

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 3:10 pm || Up

            I could get into a BUD-DY, BUD-DY chant at the Coliseum.

            • AV Mar 1,2021 5:35 pm || Up

              have you been wheezin’ the juice?

              buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh dy

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  83. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 2:06 pm

    Ok, so I guess going on jail calls is the key to the A’s offense.

    Or maybe Noe ramirez.

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  84. Future Ed Mar 1,2021 2:13 pm

    nick allen gets on base!!!*

    *hit in the helmut

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 2:38 pm || Up

      Was going to drop a photo of Chancellor Kohl here but won’t out of respect for Nick and my lack of skill with the img tag.

      • ptbnl Mar 1,2021 2:47 pm || Up

        Helmut Schmidt

        Schmidt, please!

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • Soaker Mar 1,2021 9:29 pm || Up

          I finally got around to Jonathan Alter’s biography of Jimmy Carter this week. JC wasn’t a fan.

          In the context of the 1980 Olympics boycott:

          By spring, Carter was so annoyed with Helmut Schmidt that he argued internally that right-wing Bavarian minister Franz Josef Strauss — Schmidt’s nemesis — was “a breath of fresh air” despite his “scary rhetoric.” … Carter and Brzezinski had long found Schmidt exasperating. “I guess women are not the only ones that have periods,” the president wrote in his diary after the chancellor seemed moody during an earlier meeting.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • AV Mar 1,2021 5:36 pm || Up

      chicks dig the lang ball.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  85. andeux Mar 1,2021 2:19 pm

    Why?

    TINSTAAFK
  86. Glorious Mundy Mar 1,2021 5:43 pm

    MLS in Sacramento looks dead. One hopes the stadium-funding issues outlined here don’t apply to Oakland and baseball.

    Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation cited increasing costs associated with building a stadium at the Downtown Railyards site as the primary reason Burkle, who also co-owns the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, decided not to move forward. One source said that the costs for the Sacramento stadium went from $300 million to $400 million, while infrastructure costs increased from $27 million to $47 million. On top of those increases, the ability to raise funds from the projects’ limited partners, all in the middle of a pandemic, fell roughly $60 million short of what was anticipated.

  87. elcroata Mar 2,2021 12:29 am

    The Orange and the Tar Heels doing their best so that neither get into the tourney

    Because survival is insufficient
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 2,2021 12:49 pm || Up

      That was ugly…ugly being the calling card of the Syracuse zone. Also how many more college-age kids can Boeheim possibly have?

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • elcroata Mar 2,2021 1:13 pm || Up

        Boeheim is to basketball what Karjakin is to chess. Also, UNC had 20 more rebounds and still lost, you don’t see that every day.

        Because survival is insufficient
    • elcroata Mar 6,2021 12:09 am || Up

      Lunardi one week ago: Duke is the “next four out”, and has to win three of the last four games.
      Duke loses the two games they played.
      Lunardi this week: Duke is in the “first four out”

      Because survival is insufficient
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 12,2021 5:34 pm || Up

        Now he has Syracuse as a last four in, which will become a lock as more teams drop out with COVID and/or suck. Duke did both!

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • elcroata Mar 13,2021 10:58 am || Up

          Yeah, they are even #67, so one stolen bid to spare. I’m happy Duke will miss the tourney, but that makes for one fewer game with strong rooting interest

          Because survival is insufficient
  88. Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 10:21 am

    • Future Ed Mar 2,2021 11:31 am || Up

      I do wonder about how managers are thought about.

      I wish there was some way of knowing.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • mikeA Mar 2,2021 11:35 am || Up

      That might be the most effective way to deploy Andrus.

  89. Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 12:42 pm

    Bob Uecker is getting a little…challenging to listen to.

    • andeux Mar 2,2021 12:46 pm || Up

      Fosseesque.

      I had thought they said the A’s were broadcasting all their games, but it is just the home games (which makes more sense).

      TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 2:30 pm || Up

        Uecker now telling a story about how all they used to have to eat between games of a doubleheader in the minor leagues was bouillon cubes and oyster crackers.

        • Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 2:36 pm || Up

          “Right as we were getting ready to enjoy a Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, this game ends, on a long drive to left…”

          Until next time, Uke.

          • Future Ed Mar 3,2021 2:48 pm || Up

            And since the rockies are the worst run team in MLB, we get no broadcast today

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • andeux Mar 2,2021 12:49 pm || Up

      WTMJ is a pretty funny call sign.

      TINSTAAFK
  90. Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 2:34 pm

    No idea who this pitcher Jackson is but throw FKing strikes.

  91. Glorious Mundy Mar 2,2021 2:41 pm

    If Reed makes the big leagues, I want him to keep #72.

    • Future Ed Mar 2,2021 3:22 pm || Up

      Ka’ai Tom is asking for more playing time

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  92. andeux Mar 2,2021 7:37 pm

    This Jeopardy champ looks just like Stephen Tobolowsky.

    TINSTAAFK
    • ptbnl Mar 2,2021 9:15 pm || Up

      I don’t care for not-Alex.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
      • sslinger Mar 2,2021 11:31 pm || Up

        Agree – his esses are too sibilant.. So far Ken was better.

      • andeux Mar 4,2021 5:22 pm || Up

        Did you know the UCB astrophysicist who was on last week?
        Seemed smart, but blew it in final jeopardy.

        TINSTAAFK
        • ptbnl Mar 4,2021 5:25 pm || Up

          I very rarely watch live and missed that – who was it?

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • AV Mar 2,2021 10:59 pm || Up

      did he do the whistling belly button?

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  93. andeux Mar 3,2021 12:41 pm

    Stop hitting our guys.

    TINSTAAFK
  94. nevermoor Mar 3,2021 2:22 pm

    Given this page’s disappointing over-focus on “baseball” I have to ask: how many Welsh players would we have to sign to get a bit of their 2021 Six Nations luck?

    "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • nevermoor Mar 4,2021 10:30 am || Up

        Seems reasonable. Who in the organization do I talk to?

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  95. Glorious Mundy Mar 3,2021 2:36 pm

    Jeff Criswell working on things.

    • Future Ed Mar 3,2021 2:53 pm || Up

      I would like to know how a bases loaded flyball single to center cleared the bases. I guess it was a 3-2 2 out deal, but the single and the all three scoring thing is weird

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • Future Ed Mar 3,2021 2:54 pm || Up

        I further would like to have robert baun describe it to me in real time

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
  96. Glorious Mundy Mar 3,2021 2:59 pm

    Not having seen any proof of life re Jed Lowrie thus far, I’m starting to think Pete Kozma may just make the team.

    • 5Aces Mar 3,2021 4:40 pm || Up

      Will you require the Man named Jed to hold up today’s newspaper in all pictures going forward?

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Glorious Mundy Mar 5,2021 8:12 am || Up

        I’m certainly going to need more than this.

  97. Future Ed Mar 3,2021 7:21 pm

    I think we should burn the city charter:

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 3,2021 7:37 pm || Up

      I rode the wheel. It was pretty lame. The funniest part was that there is one car with plush seating and no line if you pay extra.

      • Future Ed Mar 3,2021 7:55 pm || Up

        I have not been to the park is about a year.

        These supervisors that feel the need to micro manage every issue that gets mentionied in the chronical is tiresome. I want to a go a week without hearing about preston/peskin

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 3,2021 10:10 pm || Up

          It’s endemic to modern urban governance, they’re unable to impact anything important so they chase headlines for petty bullshit. Every local city has a Peskin or two building a successful career from just being annoying.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
          • Glorious Mundy Jun 11,2021 9:12 am || Up
            • Future Ed Jun 11,2021 4:40 pm || Up

              I have know a lot of alcoholics in my life. Usually, being an asshole is independent of that addiction.

              I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • Glorious Mundy Mar 4,2021 11:40 am || Up
          • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 4,2021 11:44 am || Up

            I’m hard pressed to think of an industry with more inherent corruption than garbage/recycling. I assume bribery is included in basically every transaction. People often wonder why the City of Berkeley does garbage pickup itself rather having the free market to do it at less cost. That’s why.

            "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
            • Future Ed Mar 4,2021 11:52 am || Up

              what, don’t you trust Browning and ferris to accurately report recycling figures?

              I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Future Ed Mar 4,2021 11:48 am || Up

            We don’t pay that much. I shutter to think of what things on the back end they cheaped out on to give us reasonable rates

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
  98. nevermoor Mar 4,2021 10:46 am

    Not sure who I’m baiting, but I thought the idea of making three plays available on demand for a week each–at a choose-your-own price model, no less–is a good way to get people thinking about theater again.

    So, I bought and now I plug.

    "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 4,2021 11:13 am || Up

      Ooh, I think that will be popular with Nurse U and her mom and sister. Thanks!

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • nevermoor Mar 4,2021 9:37 pm || Up

        Glad I baited someone.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  99. andeux Mar 4,2021 12:15 pm

    Speaking of utility rates:
    PGE wants to switch everyone over to time-of-use rates for electricity. Those rates are more expensive than the current rate plan in the summer, but cheaper in the winter. They claim that overall this will be a slight savings for me over the course of the year; I looked at the rate schedule and a couple of my bills, and I think it will be a little more expensive. Either way, that difference is small enough that I wouldn’t worry about it. (Plus there is some sort of rate protection plan for the first year.)
    The part that’s bad, is that they’re phasing this in by counties, and for Alameda County the switch is scheduled to happen in May, i.e. the precise start of the period this is least favorable for the new rates. Unless I’m missing something, I see no reason not to opt out of the change for now (and possibly switch over later, at a more favorable time).

    TINSTAAFK
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Mar 4,2021 1:56 pm || Up

      I hadn’t thought this through but yeah, opting out until later in 2021 makes sense. Also I assume this is also true for customers who switched to any of East Bay Community Energy’s various greener power plans (still billed through PGE).

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • nevermoor Mar 4,2021 9:52 pm || Up

      We picked something very intentionally when we got our solar panels (expensive during day, cheap at night). I bet they’ll cancel that.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • nevermoor Mar 8,2021 3:39 pm || Up

        Today, my mailer gave the deets. Looks like they’re making E6 (what I have) worse for people with solar, then ending it completely at the end of 2022 for something that has bad solar coverage.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
    • batgirl Mar 5,2021 11:37 am || Up

      Off the top of your head is it a huge difference? I think I already shredded that mailer and would prefer to just ignore the whole thing unless I’m going to pay a ton more.

      • andeux Mar 5,2021 12:00 pm || Up

        For me the difference looks to be around $14/month in the summer and $12/month (in the opposite direction) in the winter. (Out of a typical electrical bill of $100-$120.)

        TINSTAAFK
  100. AV Mar 4,2021 2:44 pm

    GM bait

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • Glorious Mundy Mar 4,2021 2:54 pm || Up

      Oh HELL yes.

      • AV Mar 7,2021 10:32 am || Up

        i can’t remember when you said you discovered it. i had watched it when it was newish, but my pandemic rewatch re-contextualized this episode.

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • andeux Mar 7,2021 10:41 am || Up

          Stormy Daniels?!
          I watched it about 10 years ago, after coming across an oral history of the show online somewhere. Had never even heard of it before that.

          TINSTAAFK
          • andeux Mar 7,2021 10:48 am || Up

            I opined on FK that it was “pretty good.”

            TINSTAAFK
            • AV Mar 7,2021 4:20 pm || Up

              yes!

              before we knew the names of the members in her oral history.

              *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  101. Future Ed Mar 4,2021 7:40 pm

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  102. Glorious Mundy Mar 4,2021 9:12 pm

    • andeux Mar 4,2021 9:17 pm || Up

      He kept the hat and the signing bonus.

      TINSTAAFK
      • nevermoor Mar 4,2021 10:06 pm || Up

        Seriously. We needed that hat for our current players.

        "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
        • 5Aces Mar 5,2021 8:05 am || Up

          Or we can let him keep the hat if he fills the vending machines for this season.

          Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  103. Future Ed Mar 5,2021 8:24 am

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • nevermoor Mar 5,2021 9:55 am || Up

      He’s going to break out this year. I can’t wait to see him in the rotation with Ynoa.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
  104. ptbnl Mar 5,2021 12:47 pm

    Love this:

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  105. Future Ed Mar 8,2021 8:26 am

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  106. Future Ed Mar 8,2021 11:19 am

    yes its a Dr K

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • 5Aces Mar 8,2021 12:58 pm || Up

      Ed’s working on things..

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Future Ed Mar 8,2021 1:26 pm || Up

        This comment is going to make me Dr. K again.

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • doctorK Mar 8,2021 2:25 pm || Up

          LOL

          Hi, Ed!

          • Future Ed Mar 8,2021 3:11 pm || Up

            Good sir. I disagree with Aces. I think i am in mid season form

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
  107. Future Ed Sep 14,2021 9:06 pm

    Yan gomes is not practiced in the art of the tease

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • 5Aces Sep 15,2021 6:40 am || Up

      And this made you Dr K again. This post is a magnet for Ed.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty

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