We may be taking on water. Everyone may be more focused on a city council meeting tomorrow. I may not be able to watch. But damnit we will have a series thread.
Ohtani-Irvin
Suarez-Kaprielian
A’s welcome The Irvine slegnA. Game 96-97 166
166 thoughts on “A’s welcome The Irvine slegnA. Game 96-97”
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Ohtani is pitching and batting 2nd, which will be a big advantage for the A’s when they knock him out early.
As it turned out the moves with Ohtani worked out perfectly for Scioscia (except for the new pitcher).
Man, the hot zone cold zone stuff on Gameday for Chapman is just sad.
Just before I switched over to the game I caught a few seconds of the local news talking about the stadium vote. Councilmember Noel Gallo is a hard no on HT, on the grounds that the A’s should build at the Coliseum site instead.
What about the fact that the team says they have no interest in building there?
“Well, we heard the same kind of thing from the Raiders, and from the Warriors. It’s a business.”
Uh, I hate to break it to him, but even though I don’t believe
everythinganything Dave Kaval says, both those teams did leave.Noel Gallo is a simpleton. Literally. He’s Chauncy Gardner. Dumbest politician I ever met, by far.
I guess the good news is that, so far at least, Gallo seems to be the only one rejecting the plan on its fundamental premise. It seems like with the others it’s just about money, which should be bridgeable if Fisher can be slightly less of a shithead.
Fisher will ask if we can defer it and do $1M for the next 350 years or so.
Feels like he’s going to FK this whole thing up to avoid the possibility that he may have to pay the real estate development equivalent of a qualifying offer.
I haven’t seen anything that changes my fundamental belief that this is late-stage-big-deal brinksmanship. Fisher wants to make the deal look very hard to try to get as much of the delta as he can. So do the politicians (plus, they don’t want to be soft on billionaires).
So if there’s going to be a deal it’s going to be presented as an eleventh-hour miracle.
Anyone seen anything to suggest there’s more to it than that?
Not a thing. Also I expected that we would hear a big deal about another visit to Vegas that I thought was planned the day after the vote. Didnt hear a thing which also makes me believe this.
Well, they are in Vegas now. But Kaval has been giving pretty conciliatory interviews from there, as opposed to the “Go Knights!” crap from before.
I’m with NM on where this currently stands. The city wants this thing to happen (basically blowing off the “East Oakland Stadium Alliance”-type objections to the concept of the development ), and if Fisher doesn’t want this to happen, I’m not sure why he has spent all of this time and money on it. Given that, the remaining items to negotiate don’t seem big enough to kill it, unless Fisher’s financing falls apart.
Setting aside that this is a fantasy, how does the A’s moving to Alameda keep them “in Oakland,” councilman?.
Meanwhile, Kaval continues to walk back the “we’re at an impasse” rhetoric.
grand slam home run?
He wanted to make sure it wasn’t confused with the breakfast.
He’s trying to make sure we know he isnt Moons over My Hammy about this.
I confess to having enjoyed Moons Over My Hammy. Usually at around 4:30 a.m. prior to a 6:15 flight. Among many irritations of Covid, “Always Open” Denny’s not opening until 7 a.m. The unfortunate result has been some pre-flight meals from the Jack in the Box drive thru.
Denny’s was in the late night rotation for a young Aces. It was in the same parking lot as the nightclub he and Mrs. Aces at the time frequented. We would also go after getting of of work closing at our first fast food job.
I actually took lil Miss Aces a week or 2 ago after she got off of work from her mall job. Felt like a 1000 calorie torch was being passed.
TMI
For fucks sake dave, you are asking for half a billion american dollars, pick up the phone and ask these people what’s going in their proposal
Nice team defense!
Even better on second look, Ramon got that ball and threw in ridiculously fast, Andrus spun and threw right into Murph’s glove, perfect catch and tag, out.
I’m in the Coliseum today and tomorrow. Trying to light a fire under these guys. Will probably just end up cussing at Fletcher, though that was a poor baserunning choice.
Welcome to town, enjoy our pleasant climate and largely vaccinated populace.
No social distancing here tonight. I’m too hemmed in to easily run up and try to find GM. But the crowd is big enough that, hooray, it feels like a real major league game.
I’ll add, the Go Bag is in the car, in case Tahoe burns while I’m gone.
It was pretty packed where I was. Definitely the most people I’ve been around in a very long time, which made me a little uncomfortable tbh. Heck of a fun game though.
I was going to come up there near the end of the game if the game was decided, but a second inning of Lou kept me planted in my seat.
The much-heralded $10 beers…disappeared quietly. So it looks like the price of a beer is $13.19, then they add 10.25% sales tax for a total of $14.54. The sales tax used to be included in the $10. Also, shame on you, “progressive” Alameda County, for raising the rate of that regressive tax to 10.25%. There doesn’t seem to be any discount for prepaid parking available either. The cost of attending a game at the Coliseum has increased stealthily, and significantly.
Not only no discount for prepaid parking. A $1 ticketing fee for the privilege of pre-paying. The overall cost creep is noticeable, but they partly disguise it by not allowing any cash transactions.
Yes, I knew I had paid $13.19 for the beer, but didn’t realize there was another $1.35 in sales tax there until I looked at my CC account this morning. Fine, I don’t need to Denogginize for a 12:30 game and I won’t today.
Yes, plus base ticket prices have gone up. Between COVID, costs, and the franchise Kavalcade of dickishness, I’m likely to attend fewer than 10 games this year, a 60% decrease.
Honestly, I am so fed up with ownership, I looked at Saturday’s deal of $8 tix and a free t-shirt and I decided I’m not giving these assholes any of my money. It’s just so sad.
My general impression (I’ve only gone to three games, and it’s hard to tell for sure with the variable pricing) was that they really jacked prices up for the limited capacity games, but now they are closer to what they had been in recent years.
I’m also glad they have the food trucks again, as those tend to be a little better value than the concession stands.
But overall costs are still up, and the product on the field has not been great for the last month or so either. I might well have gone today if any of that were different.
Eaton turf.
Must be nice to know you can let an extra runner get into scoring position and it won’t matter.
Scioscia challenged an obviously correct call earlier, now can’t challenge an obviously wrong one.
I have seen 14 innings of professional baseball this year and 1 total run, which was the result of a Vimael Machin throwing error.
Ramon is 3x greater than Machin.
Another offensive suckfest so far. My upcoming attendance at a couple Aviators home games should fix the issue.
Until then (couple weeks) I have to wait 45 minutes or so for each Olson PA.
A’s are winning the pitch count battle, but Irvin has been known to fall apart fast.
We are at the 7th inning stretch, Giants/Dodgers are in the 3rd.
Both these offenses suck. Even with placed runner at second we’ll need something like a passed ball and a balk.
The slegnA are missing 3 of their top 5 hitters. Sadly, we’re at “full strength”.
Shouldn’t someone run for Moreland?
Thank you.
Holy shit, something good happened offensively.
FINALLY! Sheesh.
Sheesh-ek.
Nice catch.
Hell of a play by Chapman, and it’s funny what a well-placed 3-run homer will do for your attitude.
Whoa! Nice finish!
excellent
Better see those green tops again tomorrow. And let’s get a yes vote to go with it.
(Is a yes vote good now? I don’t know and I don’t give a darn, just get the shit built)
Based on history I predict they’ll vote yes on something much more vague than the term sheet, like authorizing the City Admin to negotiate further within a range of deal point parameters which are already closer than a week ago. Council can play tough, drawing a firm line on the affordable units and the IFDs, but ultimately tally a yes vote for Howard Terminal, with major caveats, and thereby force the A’s to either negotiate more or be the bad guys.
Yeah, messaging is important here. Kaval was pushing the narrative that a yes vote on the council’s version of the terms is actually a no vote on the project, but it does not seem like many people are falling for that. This is an opportunity to make the headlines say that they have approved building a new stadium (and lots of housing) at HT.
he just is incapable of talking to people that matter and keeping his cool
Tired act.
that’s…better? Sure, but come on, it’s half a billion you are asking for. be more diplomatic
This is GREAT! VOTE NO!!
Approved as amended, 6-1-1. Gallo no, Fife abstain
Big picture, 6 out of 8 council members just went on the record in favor of the project, and all of the things left to negotiate seem quite achievable by the end of the year. That’s progress, whatever Kaval feels he needs to say from inside a casino tomorrow.
Yeah covering the 350 million with the federal/state grants per Ed’s link (and ensuring the A’s aren’t on the hook for that money) seems like a pretty big gap closing overture.
I’m not sure why Kaval is still holding onto the assholish “our way or the highway” approach when it seems like that significant point of progress has been made. Most charitable explanation is that they really weren’t aware of that point being granted, and/or they haven’t fully reviewed it so Kaval was told just to stick to the previous script in this meeting. I will say that it’s not a great look for the Council to release a new term sheet just 4 days before this meeting.
The least charitable explanation is, of course, that they’ve already made up their minds and they are leaving if they’re not given every single detail of their original term sheet.
A’s and City negotiated through the weekend and yesterday on those new terms. They did not come as a surprise to Kaval.
I find it hard to believe they are looking for a reason to bail when they have invested this much in the project and are this close.
The most straightforward explanation for the dickishness is probably that Kaval thinks the concrete threat of Vegas etc. was necessary to get the movement represented by this vote, and that the threat has to remain live in order for the final push to happen. That’s a fine line to walk, though. There’s a point where the dickishness starts to work against you if you burn enough bridges.
Agreed, and note with interest that the post vote statement from the City was jointly signed by Schaaf and Kaplan, who hate each other. Augers well for unity in City position.
“The primary difference is that Oakland is standing firm on community benefits, and the sources for funding them.” Reading between the lines, the deal is right there to be done, but the city wants Fisher to open his wallet just a couple of centimeters. Good luck with that I guess.
lol, again
This is a very low effort attempt at badcoppery. Embarrassing, honestly.
I’m still assuming A’s actually want to make HT work…money spent, Bay Area upside, etc etc etc. I agree with this, today saw the biggest City commitment to keeping a sports team in 25 years. By a lot. So in that sense the “This time we’re really serious” posture did work.
But now they risk overplaying that tenuous hand. If you call out the local pols who got HT this far today, as Manfred did, they will back the fuck away. If Fisher really actually ever intended to finance $1B for an East Bay park himself, today is a huge win. But if they double down on the complaints and junkets and ham-fisted PR, I question whether HT was ever their plan.
It is a good question if they wanted it or where on the cash outlay spectrum they would accept it
But what is more attractive? That question I can;t answer.
Whatever this is, it isn’t pretending to walk away. Seems positive.
Matt Olson hit a ball he had to react to
He also had to run in for Kemp’s bunt single that was thrown away.
He was already out of the game for Olson’s homer.
So, Scioscia gives up down 3?
It both would and wouldn’t have been funny if his spot came up in the ninth with the game on the line, as looked quite possible for a moment.
the angels are going with a bullpen game for game 5 after the break?
They drafted 20 pitchers and no hitters for good reason. Scioscia probably hopes to see a couple of those guys on the big league club before the end of the season.
You guys live blog the preening of the City Council, I have a ball game to watch on a perfect 70 degree day.
Walking around pregame I noticed Gate B (above RF steps) has only one metal detector but nobody using it either. Seems like the secret entrance, much easier than the slog at Gate D last night.
Yes, it is. Pre-pandemic it was a second season ticket holders’ entrance. They understaff it, so sometime you’ll have to wait a bit, but it has the nicest staff and since all the bleacher crew use it, they’re used to dealing with flagpoles and cowbells and whatnot.
Wish I’d known about this entrance before Monday. The line to get in at the gate nearest the north lot was absurdly slow. They were going through every inch of every bag like it was a crime scene investigation, and there was no line for bagless people like myself. Utterly infuriating experience.
Speaking of entrances….the parking lot gates have been absurdly understaffed for a lot of games. Especially since I’m paying $30 instead of $10 – the season ticket rate in 2019 – I see no reason why 20 minutes before a game they only have two lanes open at the South Lot main gate.
So I’ve given up on it and reverted to 100% Baldwin Gate. It’s also such a perfect overture to the 2021 Coliseum experience to take an unmarked route through a homeless encampment, then drive around the decaying pile of football bleachers before emerging into the glory of a tailgate in progress.
@5Aces Sorry, home whites today.
Ugh-have these guys even seen Bull Durham? Never fuck with a winning streak.
Though to be fair Major League 2 teaches us this isnt a streak yet.
So that’s 2 in a row. And if we win tomorrow, it’s called “a winning streak”.
No in-park reference to the vote so far.
It’s like Fletcher drank a magic potion that makes it impossible for the A’s to put him out, no matter what he does.
Elvis, what are you doing man.
Bold statergy by darren bush to make Scioscia keep Suarez in the game until they can pounce
vince just said they aren’t travelling with the team
I dunno about Sublime. Something off Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness would work for just about every Chapman PA. Actually for Piscotty too.
“Doin Time” was probably Scott Boras’s suggestion.
Oly getting uncold would be a good thing.
Honestly, work is less painful than watching Chapman – Piscotty.
Piscotty is still on the team?
Looking at who might get a DFA to clear roster space, both 25-man and 40-man, at the deadline: it already happened once to Bolt, Jacob Wilson is pretty generic and Burch is deep in the doghouse. But Piscotty certainly gets a mention.
Why are there still players coming up trying to look like 2010 Jason Werth?
If COVID masking didn’t put an end to the beardy madness then nothing will.
dammit
Not a great day for the umps at 1st and 2nd.
We’re gonna break the record for calls overturned, whatever it is.
See you in Vegas, 2B umpire.
I don’t know how much Kapri’s ball is spinning today, but it’s spinning enough.
Duke of Lizards!
Jacob Wilson clap clap clapclapclap
Good for Jacob Wilson, whoever he is.
one of things I like about baseball is the camaraderie. jered Walsh was a stone cold dick there. It’s his first big league hit. Smile. say congrats
Returning to the need for a Kaprielian nickname. He’s become so proficient at escaping jams that something referencing Houdini or David Blaine seems warranted. Perhaps the EsKape Artist.
Nice
Seeing-eye grounder, pinch runner, hbp, sac bunt, ibb, sac fly. It takes a village to make a run these days.
It helped that the throw in from left field was so Khris-worthy.
I like watching this replay of the 2016 A’s defense, but in red
Hot Ramon would be a most welcome arrival.
I blame you guys for that Ramon lawn dart.
Someday he will learn to throw.
Laureanodart
Romo! Not bad.
Am I happy with romo v ohtani up 4 with a runner on?
That was a pretty nasty pitch he K’d him on. I’m not mad at it, particularly after 2 from Lou last night.
Ever since that slegnA game he blew and we were all pissed about, he’s been shockingly good (and also I think the subject of a recent andeux FKwiz). The velocity hasn’t changed much, but it seems like his command of the slider has been impeccable.
Hey-I remember these guys!
wow! some good luck
Wow stringing hits together and scoring runs, who is this team.
Scioscia just got tossed.
Really getting his money’s worth
How can I miss Scioscia if he won’t go away?
FK only has one silly meme. Please let us keep that one.
scioscia should be suspended for getting kicked out of a 6-0 game with no question pending
There’s no standing to litigate the issue of your team sucking
Seriously, what was he even arguing about? There were no strikeouts in the preceding half-inning; a couple borderline called strikes, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Maybe a couple pretty bad called strikes on Ohtani the inning before that one.
he was on tilt through a full inning?
He’s been on tilt for years.
Maybe thought they had Kemp struck out before his single in the 7th? There was one close pitch that AB.
Pardon?
had to be eaton. He seems to have the weird parenting issue
dylan bundy with mop up work?
Scioscia wants to go see what is on afternoon TV.
He’s getting cranky, must be time for his afternoon nap.
Have they aligned the chakras throughout the lineup?
9-3 vs. the Not-Trouts.
(Sees Moll and Guerra pitch the last two innings, gets to wave the FKing broom proudly anyway)
I’ll take our Guerra over their Guerra.
means getting a lot of hard contact first start back since, checks notes, june 5…
I know I lost last man standing early, but i am seeing tom brady at the white house with jokes…did he win the superbowl?
Another question along those lines, from a bar and grill in Folsom: I’m sure people in Milwaukee care about the NBA Finals on July 20, possibly a few in Phoenix as well, but as to anyone else..???
Upcoming schedule is dicey. Four at a fired up Seattle, two at San Diego, four at Trout, five at home, then ten more on the road including four at White Sox, then finally back home for Giants, Mariners, Yankees.
I will be in the woods for the entirety of this four game trip to Seattle. A’s could be nipping at Houston’s heels or dismally sinking into third place when I emerge.
Cat Osterman has been the ace of teh US softball for like 15 years it feels.
Actually 17 years, she led the 2004 squad with 23 Ks.
Japan beat Australia 8-1 in five innings, because apparently a seven-run lead is enough for the mercy rule in softball. Seems wrong.
Isn’t women’s softball the original source of the placed runner at second base in extra innings, to avoid 25-inning games? There are a LOT of very low-scoring games. Seven runs sounds like plenty.
Yes, the pitchers dominate overwhelmingly. Through four scoreless innings right now in USA-Canada I think maybe four balls have even reached an outfielder.
I didn’t realize how close the pitcher is to the plate. And she’s able to leap forward several feet off the rubber before releasing the ball. It makes hitting look impossible.
A’s Cast has a Lansing game on right now, with Stockton and Midland broadcasts later today. If you’re into that sort of thing.
This was a reply fail, btw. Not specifically directed at what things FSU is or isn’t into.
“Kaval is Fredo Corleone with a wind-up toy of a circus monkey playing cymbals where his relatability and improvisational skills should reside.”
its fun, a little too much pox on both their houses when the pox should be mostly with kaval and fischer
Ratto can still turn a phrase, but for the most part he has been phoning it in for at least a decade.
I wouldn’t say phoning it in…still quite fun to read…but he basically only has two rants now: Aggressively dismissive of everything outside the lines, or stubborn refusal to acknowledge fan passion. I’m sure he sees it as masterful stoicism.
sigh
Honestly, this was my hope that the A’s will get better at all this deadline. They aren’t getting Story or Kimbrel or Bryant. Cruz was their only real shot. Ugh.
Veto.