No Cust again today, again vs a RHSP. Jackson at DH, Gross in RF, Rajai in LF. Crisp leading off. And Rosales gives Cliffy (at least?) one day off.
Byg Twyt speculates a roster shakeup a-comin’ — I agree. The Fox/Patterson DFAs were likely the initial volley. He thinks Cust is gone in a couple weeks with Carter being called up — but it seems to me that two days off aganst two consecutive rightie SPs means Cust may already be on his way out (via trade or DFA). There’s also a bit about how the A’s may hang onto Sheets …
… which is echoed by Robothal, who also speculates that the A’s might move Crisp instead.
I’d think if the A’s do keep Sheets, that likely (but doesn’t have to) rules out picking up an Oswalt or a Lee. Trading Crisp (or Rajai) would make a lot of sense.
Mazzaro vs Cueto at 12:35.
Oh, and: U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Watched that live in the airport, the entire terminal was cheering. Good times.
The one time there actually was a player offside for a US goal, and it’s the one that is allowed!
… and Olney (second-hand link via mlbtr) has a more nuanced/realistic take, where he says that the A’s will likely need to cover some of Sheets’ salary in order to demand compelling offers.
As grover pointed out, the A’s have plenty of cash on hand for this year and next, so it’s probably not beyond the realm of the possible that they could offload Sheets + cash for some decent prospects and take on a good chunk of Oswalt’s salary.
The idea of getting Oswalt was already a stretch a week ago when the A’s were still sorta contending, but now it’s just completely ridiculous – Wolff/Beane aren’t going to add to the payroll this year AND Beane isn’t going to give up prospects for a high-priced veteran AND Oswalt isn’t going to agree to a trade to a non-contending club. Might as well discuss Chavvy for A-Rod.
To be honest, I’d lost track of just how far out of contention the A’s had fallen. Yeah, Oswalt isn’t happening.
I honestly can’t see Beane/Forst hanging onto Sheets for essentially no return at all when he walks. (Unless they’re so enamored of his Savvy Veteran Leadership and Mentoring [and it’s reciprocated] that they sign him to an extension. Which might make some sense, what with Duke gone, Braden and Anderson injured, and all the other guys pretty iffy — and the A’s salary room the next couple years, what with finally getting rid of Captain Albatross.)
Urgh. Devine and Outman both shut down.
See, now I’d done gone and forgotten about those two, and now you had to bring them up just to remind me what a bummer the injuries have been. Thanks a heap.
{sigh} Seconded.
Wow. Is anybody following Wimbledon? Isner and Mahut are tied 53-53 in the fifth set.
54-53
54-54. Holy moly.
55-55
That is nuts!
56-55
57-56
This will never end.
57-57
59-58
54-40 or fight!
59-59, suspended for darkness
aka Milton Bradley’s explanation every time he faces MLB discipline
That is incredible. I can’t imagine how they can even pick up their rackets to keep going after that much time.
The match finally ended at 70-68 in the 5th, Isner winning. They played another 1:05 today, 11-9, which itself would be a long set. The match total ended up being 11:05 stretched out over 3 day. I loved the subtle British humor in the ceremony afterwards, when the announcer congratulated the umpire for keeping control over the match – and himself – over that lengthy period. All in all, just wow.
Turns out what happened was neither could break the other’s serve the ENTIRE 5th set.
Miguel Cairo?!?
For FK’s sake.
Not losing would be nice.
WTF happened on that “Bruce single to 1B”?
Whoo hoo, Ellis breaks up the perfecto! What the hell is a “double on a flyball to second baseman B. Phillips, deflected by rightfielder J. Bruce?
Ellis hits don’t count?
Yes. When a hit falls in the grassy field, and FSU’s not paying attention, it doesn’t make a sound. (Edited above to hide my incorrectitude).
Bases loaded, no one out…we can’t lose!
gah
4-2-5 DP, followed by Geren ejection … anyone know what happened?
Gameday has a funny (emphasis added):
Robert Buan is transcribing into Gameday?
Unless Cincy pulls off the ‘ole 4-2-5 double play. Sheeee-it.
Anyone listening to radio on this? Why did Geren get tossed by the 2B ump, since the plays were apparently at home and third?
I’m guessing it was a pop/linedrive that the 2B dropped/let fall (intentionally or not), with the runners hung out to dry.
Geren presumably arguing either IF fly should have been called or that the call should have been made that the drop was intentional (both calls which would have been the 2B ump’s duty).
Ah, that makes sense.
It seems Phillips let the ball drop and Geren was arguing that it should have been called an infield fly rule play. The guys in the booth, Fosse included, didn’t think it was high enough to be an automatic call. Key was that Phillips didn’t catch it then drop it, just let it fall.
“unknown into double play”: the 2010 A’s in a nutshell
Me-di-o-cre!
Clap Clap Clapclapclap
They really need to get Zk out from behind the high-OBP guys.
That Suzuki DP just broke the camel’s back for me.
I can’t find a single facet of this team that isn’t mediocre or below average. In previous years, you could always count on the starting pitching and/or the bullpen to be above average but not this year. The talent level on this team is the lowest it’s ever been in the last decade.
On top of that, I see little hope for the future. One of the two offensive “saviors” is currently sporting an OPS less than .700 (!) right now. The other is hitting for an even lower AVG, striking out a ton, can’t play defense, and has an OPS around .800. He’ll be lucky if he turns into Jack Cust. On top of that, all the other prospects who can potentially turn into good MLB players are either injured (yay systemwide incompetent medical staff!) or not producing. The franchise pitcher is on his way to becoming Rich Harden 2.0.
And on top of all that, we have a GM who’s made numerous questionable moves over the last two years and is looking more and more like he 1) wasn’t that smart in the first place and/or 2) doesn’t look that smart anymore since everyone else is a lot smarter. Or shit, maybe Trainman’s right and he doesn’t care anymore. Wasn’t 2005 the “weakest team we’ll have for a while”? That didn’t work out. Weren’t we supposed to start competing in ’09? ’10? Heck, ’11 and ’12 doesn’t look that hot right now either. This is looking like yet another halfway rebuild so we might as well say goodbye to Suzuki this offseason.
The Rangers have a shit ton of talent, with higher upside than ours, and look to be good for the next 4-5 years. The Angels always have money to spend. Can anyone give me one reason to be optimistic about this team’s chances for the next 4 years or so?
Also: no money coming from new stadium until, what, ’13 at the rosy-lensed earliest?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ynoa finishes his A’s career before they move into a new stadium.
Having TJS next June would take care of that.
I forgot there was a game today. Sounds like the A’s forgot, too. (and yesterday, and the day before, and…)