Talking You Down

by Blez on Apr 20, 2005 10:37 PM PDT in News

Please just stop. Back away slowly from the edge. It isn't worth it. Seriously.

I get as frustrated as the rest of you at this team, but you have to take a moment to exhale and look at the positives.

This team is one game back of the division lead with our number three and four hitters representing a black hole on offense. The team is currently afflicted with RISP Disease. It only seems to rear it's head in key situations, but that's what makes it so deadly. Our top three RBI guys bat 1, 2 and usually seventh in the order.

But ultimately, every single team in the AL West is flawed. Seriously flawed.

The Angels starting pitching is suspect and their offense outside of Guerrero hasn't been much better (think they are already longing for Glaus and Guillen, especially the way both have started with their new teams?). The Rangers have taxed their bullpen beyond belief because of their weak starting pitching. The Mariners also have a rotation with some holes in it.

If anything, look at how our young starting pitching is performing:

Haren - 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
Blanton - 2.04 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Harden - 0.68 ERA, 0.98 WHIP

Barry Zito has the worst stats of the rotation. Now, I imagine the kids will come back down to earth a little once the league catches up to them.

Remember, Beane is watching this team closely and realizes it has holes. In a division filled with parity, it might take just one or two key players to help put a team over the top. Billy knows this.

So even though we have a leader that is battling mental demons right now and a left fielder who couldn't take the proper route to a ball if he was strapped to the back a golden retriever, just have a little patience.

Chavy will come around eventually. You just have to know someone is miserably off his game if he can't protect against a fastball right down the pipe, 3-2 with the bases loaded.

But part of me wonders, at least until he gets his swing back, is it time to put him fifth or sixth in the order and go with Kotsay in the three-hole? Just until he starts to get the confidence back.

I realize that probably isn't going to happen because players need to work through these things.

It's possible Durazo got a little bit of the feel back tonight with that bomb off of Guardado and he's been hitting better lately, starting in Texas. The problem is that you can whatever you want to with this lineup right now, but too many guys aren't hitting. I mean, judging from the way the players are hitting, you'd need to go with Ellis, Scutaro and Kotsay as your top three hitters and we know that isn't going to happen.

But my point is, keep your heads high, folks. Everyone hits a slump now and then and in my opinion, it's better Chavy hit it out of the gate than later in the season.

So relax, take a deep breath and repeat after me, "We're not even a tenth into the season. We're not even a tenth into the season."

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thanks Blez

it's very late where I am and I have a big work day later today, but I got so upset that I've been staying up listening to Buan (the mlb.com audio feed is fine for him, just screws up during the game).

Everybody let's remember it's April 20. And we need our sleep.

I'm glad you're all there to vent with.

by OaklandSi on Apr 20, 2005 10:42 PM PDT 0 recs

So true Blez....Well said.

Although I seriously doubt Anaheim is missing Glaus and his .220 average.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 10:43 PM PDT 0 recs

Maybe his 5 HRs...

A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores.

by baseballgirl on Apr 21, 2005 9:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

My thoughts on the game

(Blez, hope it's ok to repost this--you put up this new thread seconds after I posted the following on the game thread...)

* First off, I am firmly in the camp of people who believe Chavy's last AB was unacceptable for the situation. The 3-2 pitch was not only a clear strike, but it was the only pitch one would expect in that situation--fastball away. Down 2, where a walk leaves it up to the next guy, you have to be swinging at any strike and anything borderline. I really believe Macha should give him tomorrow off to clear his head.

{Personal note to vacaville: I'm not a "homer"; I call 'em as I see 'em. What I never do is "trash" players; if you interpret that as being "always backing all the players," well...do what you want, I suppose.}

* What bothers me most are inconsistencies, and there were two tonight:

1. Byrnes was in LF for the ill-fated play, rather than a defensive replacement (e.g., Thomas), presumably to keep his bat in the lineup. Yet Byrnes was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 8th (ironically for Kielty to bat from his weaker side). Either Byrnes should have been out of the game by the bottom of the 7th or he should have hit in the 8th.

2. Rincon was up, but was not called in to face any of 3 lefties. Surely, he wasn't up for Ichiro, because by the time Ichiro came up, the M's would have to have at least a 2-run lead already. I'm guessing Macha was worried about a pinch-hitter for the pinch-hitter, and that Rincon would wind up facing a righty (only thing I can think of), but then don't bother to have him up.

IMO, poorly managed game (by a decent manager), "key players" (Zito, Chavy) not there when needed; not good enough to pitch well once the damage is done, or to stand, passively, for a decisive AB that needs a game-tying hit.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 20, 2005 10:43 PM PDT 0 recs

Agreed...

I agree totally Nico. Tonight's game WAS very poorly managed. And i think it shows a lack of confidence in Rincon that Macha didn't have come in to face those lefties. The mariners don't have a single decent right-handed bat on the bench to counter that move. As for the Byrnes fiasco i'd add one thing as well..did anyone else notice how deep the guy was playing against a left handed hitter with little pop to the opposite field?
Knowing Byrnes propensity for bad jumps i'd say that was horrendous positioning at a critical time in the game.
You also hit the nail on the head with the word "passive". Slumps are a fact of life but you can't get a key hit without swinging the damn bat. He's supposed to be THAT guy..the one we WANT up there in that situation. Tonight (and just about every other night recently) i'd have rather had anyone else up there with the game in the balance. Ok..maybe not ANYONE..anyone else but Chavy or Bobby "feel that breeze" Kielty.

by FabulousG on Apr 20, 2005 11:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

If

Byrnes was playing too deep then the A's coaching staff should have moved him in. I would guess that the real problem was that the OF was playing the left handed hitting Dobbs to pull and he blooped one the opposite way. Everthing seems to be Byrnes' fault these days.

by Larry E on Apr 21, 2005 4:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Positives

although this was the most frustrating game so far this season, there were tons of positives. kotsay, swisher, ellis and scoot were awesome. durazo finally hit his first homerun after ten years. ichiro struck out twice against our pitchers!

confucius says "baseball is wrong; man with four balls cannot walk."

by gotgreen on Apr 20, 2005 10:43 PM PDT 0 recs

You Are Right

I agree with many of your points Blez. They still almost won this game despite the miscues.
I said at the beginning of the season it would be a roller coaster ride.

I do want to scold some of the more vocal Chavez bashers. Sure he is blowing rhino at the plate right now, but he has always been a streaky type of hitter.

I am sure he is as frustrated (if not more) than us fans. The guy worked his tail off to become a Gold Glover and (at least last season) has started to figure out how to hit lefties better.

Give the guy a break and wait to pronounce his sentence after a full month of games at least.

by RudiFan on Apr 20, 2005 10:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Every game reminds me

that Miguel Tejada is the one we should have kept. 0-15 is fine, [you know who im talking about] will always be at his worst in pressure situations. See, how much I lower my expectations of [him]

But having another error or misplay that costs his pitcher is not worth 10+ million dollars to me.

by suggy on Apr 20, 2005 10:45 PM PDT 0 recs

0-15

is his batting avg in RISP. Just to clear up any confusion

by suggy on Apr 20, 2005 10:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

Before the Byrnes muff,

Chavez threw in the dirt to 1st. A halfway decent throw would have gotten us out of the inning (though it woulda been close).

by Checkswing HR on Apr 20, 2005 10:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Watched the play back on Tivo...

He short armed the throw like he was worried about throwing it away...It was very tentative....really a strange throw from a great fielder.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

BUT

If we are taling about the same play, it was a tough play for Chavie to field in the first place. Byrnes'play was comparatively easy.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 20, 2005 11:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Easy?

Sure.....to give up 2 runs...no one would have caught that ball except maybe Ichiro or Carl Crawford.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

He didn't have to catch it

Let it bounce, throw it in, minimize the damage to one run. It was clearly uncatchable. I doubt that Ichiro would've tried to make that play.

We all love Byrnes for his enthusiam, but once in awhile, it bites him in the ass. It happened tonight.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 20, 2005 11:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

There were 2 outs....

The runners were going...that was two runs no matter what for sure.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yes

A runner on second will go to third, but not necessarily go home.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 20, 2005 11:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

If a runner is running on contact...

Hes gonna score on a single..especially a bloopy one like that. That was 2 runs for sure....

Either way...tonight sucked. :-(

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

You guyz

crack me up... 2 runs score on that play. Byrnes has a noodle for an arm.

by oakwin2004 on Apr 21, 2005 8:49 AM PDT up 0 recs

2 runs is better than 3

Wouldn't 2 runs have meant Durazo's home run ties the game?

by Donner on Apr 21, 2005 10:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

No, 2 runs

means it's 7-5 going to the 8th. Different game, who knows what happens from there...

Nico

by Nico on Apr 21, 2005 11:15 AM PDT up 0 recs

thanks

I have been waiting for someone to realize that the game is played differently every situation. Too many "what if" posts out there.

Let's Go Oakland!

by AllThingsOakland on Apr 21, 2005 11:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

And yea..Chavy's was very tough...

I just thought the throw was very strange and unlike him..it was a very tentative throw as if he just didnt want to make a mistake.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

That's the thing about Chavez

It isn't just throwing away at-bats in key situations. He's cost us two straight games with poor plays in the field. Unacceptable for a franchise player who is supposed to be a gold glove fielder.

by jmoney on Apr 21, 2005 10:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Not an easy play

It was not an easy play at all. Few if any LFs would have made the catch. Perhaps he should have played it safe and concede two runs (even Vladdy wouldn't have had a play at home on an opposite field bloop like that with two out so it would have been two runs for sure) but it is very easy to say that now knowing that he didn't catch it and knowing that the A's scored 2 more runs. I get the feeling that if he had done this and we went on to lose 6-5 people would have been giving him grief for not making an attempt at the ball on a play that ultimately cost us the game.

by Larry E on Apr 21, 2005 4:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

I want to see Byrnsie

strapped to the back of a golden retriever.

Thanks :-)

by green star oakland on Apr 20, 2005 10:45 PM PDT 0 recs

Golden retriever

I have often compared Byrnes to having a golden retriever in left field,so maybe having two of them might help.

by EgolikeRickey on Apr 21, 2005 10:57 AM PDT up 0 recs

my puppy

is part lab, part golden and she cannot track a ball in flight to save her life. Tons of enthusiasm for running after the ball, but she invariably heads in completely the wrong direction. Strapping Eric Byrnes to my Bronte will only compound the problem. Nice image, though, Blez. Thanks for making me smile.

by batgirl on Apr 21, 2005 12:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid tonight.

This team has had RISP disease for over two years, and I'm sorry, but Billy Beane is going to have to trade for half of a new team to fill the holes in this lineup.

by jmoney on Apr 20, 2005 10:46 PM PDT 0 recs

Stop being such an apologist!

Blez, you've raised good points, but you're coming across as such an apologist. It reminds me of listening to a Raiders game where the broadcasters try and put a positive spin on a huge loss. They say stuff like, "The Raiders were dominating in their 42-0 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs. The score doesn't reflect how well these men battled." Let people vent. We're not the GM, which is probably a good thing because otherwise some people would choose batting orders based on how cute the players are.

by farawaya on Apr 21, 2005 6:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

The sad fact is

When Mark Ellis is hitting 6th in the lineup, you've got problems.

by Jeff in Seattle on Apr 20, 2005 10:48 PM PDT 0 recs

This post says it all...

though kudos to Ellis for his solid performance so far.

by boilerdan on Apr 21, 2005 5:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

Macha

HE is reallh handcuffed with the injuries to Calero, and to a lesser extent Cruz. Street would not have been in if not for the injuries. And the way you guys b**ch about Rincon, it was him or Street. HE didn't bring Duke in at that time sice they were tied, and we were looking at possible extra innings

by theblackpearl on Apr 20, 2005 10:49 PM PDT 0 recs

couple other analytical thoughts

In the learning process, Street needs to focus on two things:

It's fantastic that he throws so many strikes, but he does need to make his 0-2 pitches less hitable. The one to Beltre was a "good pitch" but was also too hitable for the count.
Street will (as Fosse perceptively noted) need to focus more on the inner half of the plate than the outer half vs. lefties. Like Bradford's greatest success to lefties has come running the frisbee slider in on the hands, Street needs to find the down and in spot. The outer half will not be his friend vs. lefties.

Seems like a quick learner; I'm sure he'll figure both these things out sooner rather than later.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 20, 2005 10:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Can u guys even imagine how Beane reacts

to some of these AB's? Must drive him freaking nuts.....

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 10:51 PM PDT 0 recs

he probably has a whole room filled with chairs...

...just for games like this one.

by Sharon on Apr 20, 2005 10:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Byrnes has consistently made poor plays this year.

I don't remember Byrnes misplaying this many balls last year. What's going on?

Was Street charged with one earned run, or three? If he was charged with three, then official scorers are officially certifiable.

The hits Street did give up were all weakly hit.

It's so ironic that, going into the season, I expected all the young arms to get pounded and the offense to be at about the same level as last year. I mean, it's a huge irony how things have worked out in the first three weeks. The performance of our pitching bodes real well for the future.

by Checkswing HR on Apr 20, 2005 10:52 PM PDT 0 recs

Huge charged with all 3

by green star oakland on Apr 20, 2005 10:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

How wouldnt it be 3?

There's no error when you dive like that.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

The error mau not be in the dive, but in

allowing the ball to get by you.

Look at it from the pitcher's perspective. Did Huston pitch as badly as a typical pitcher who gives up 3 runs in a single inning?

by Checkswing HR on Apr 21, 2005 8:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

ur right, man

the season IS still young. chavez isnt gonna hit .200 with 10 hrs this year. zito isnt gonna go 0-15 with a 7.50 ERA. yea, our 2 veteran leaders look lost, confused, frustrated and unconfident right now. but it wont last.

chavvy is strugglin big time right now. everyone here at AN no that. he looks afraid at the plate, like he doesnt know whether to be patient or aggressive. thats why half the time, he strikes out and other times he swings at the first pitch and pops up to lefts field. he looks overmatched by fastballs that really arent that fast. he swings blindly at pitches tailing away and thinks hes taller than he really is when he swings at a pitch at his eyes. i think blez is right. until he regains his confidence he shold be moved down. his slump shouldnt be costing us ballgames.

as for zito, im not ready to write him off yet. yea he looked abysmal in the first inning today. he was nowhere near the zone and his changeup wasnt working in the beginning. but after that first inning, he did put up five straight 0's. i've been patient with him and im not gonna give up on him. hes only 27 years old and i still believe he can prove to us that 2004 was the abberration, not the 01-03. hes too young and talnted to just flame out. even if he continues to dissapoint every time he starts, im still just gonna suck it up and say " yea, he wasnt all that today. but, he'll get'em next time i know he will" because hes done so much for us over the years that it wouldnt be fair to trash talk him after every rough start. until beane thinks its time to trade him, i'll always look forward to barry zitos starts because i have a confidence he'll do well, no matter how many times he dissapoints us.

man that was long....my longest post ever. sorry if it bored anyone but i just wanted to say what i had on my mind

by OakT0wnB0rNnRaZed on Apr 20, 2005 10:56 PM PDT 0 recs

Question

If we temporarily move Chavez down in the order does Mark Ellis become the clean-up hitter (ha). Would break up the 3 lefties ... Durazo, Ellis, Hatteberg (hmmm)???

by Larry E on Apr 21, 2005 4:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's a rebuilding year

We should temper our expectations. Even though we're showing promising signs with so many young guys, we're basically over achieving.

by kvn on Apr 20, 2005 10:58 PM PDT 0 recs

can't agree there

I don't think we're overachieving, I think we're achieving right where we should. Flashes of brilliance and promise, too many flaws to string wins together, frustrating but entertaining.

We'll contend if/when we get better over time and no one runs away with it, both of which could totally happen, we'll see.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 20, 2005 11:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Isn't it ironic? Dontcha think?

That the young unproven guys have perhaps overachieved so far,while the "givens" have mostly sucked? If you had told me a month ago that Swisher would be hitting timely bombs and playing great D and that the young starters were ALL pitching well i'd have expected more than a 7-8 record at this point. Time for the vets to step up. There are gonna be times when THEY are gonna have to carry the young guys. I admit that from what i saw tonight..that thought scares me.

by FabulousG on Apr 20, 2005 11:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

yet our record doesn't reflect this - yet!

that's all I meant

by kvn on Apr 21, 2005 2:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Blez, I totally agree...

But in the meantime, I reserve the right to scream and curse at the TV whenever Chavie ks with the bases loaded, or Byrnes makes such an utterly bone-headed play.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 20, 2005 11:05 PM PDT 0 recs

Zito gave up 4 runs in his first start,

8 runs in his second start, so I did an elaborate multivariate quadratic linear regression and concluded that he would give up 16 runs in his third start, 32 runs in his fourth start, and 2,147,483,648 runs in his last start in September.

Then Zito was lights out last Friday. So it's back to the drawing board!

Wait! He gave up 2 runs last Friday and 4 runs tonight, so that means 8 runs next Monday, 16 runs the Saturday after that ...

... looks like I need to pack it in for the night ...

by Checkswing HR on Apr 20, 2005 11:07 PM PDT 0 recs

So you're saying

that Zito is very even. That's odd. Well no, it can't be, can it?

Nico

by Nico on Apr 20, 2005 11:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

CHAVY DESERVES NO SYMPATHY

I was at the game tonight and it was obvious that Chavez was scared. What was worse than the called strike three was the called strike two. The man wants no piece of ANY KIND of pressure and wants to hand it off to others.

When one signs the biggest contract in a small market team's history, he should be willing to take the pressure.

WE, as fans have A RIGHT to demand more of Chavez and bitch about it until he comes through. Let's cut the postivie vibe crap about Chavy, PLEASE?

I agree that there are MANY positives about this season (e.g., young pitchers, the bottom and top of our order, the bullpen) and I am excited about this team, but I am PISSED and EMBARRASED about Chavez' play.

The fact is that this is not new for Chavy. Macha needs to drop him in the order until he figures something out.

Can you believe that Chavy was bitching about hitting behind Durazo this spring????

Sack up Chavy. We have had enough. Stop wasting the payroll.

P.S. Macha -- why no LOOGY (Rincon) for the lefties that Hargrove trotted out there???

by Josh on Apr 20, 2005 11:21 PM PDT 0 recs

Hes terrible right now....no doubt

But it is a long season......Let's see where he's at July 1st..I bet it is a whole lot better and back in line with the player we know he is.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Apr 20, 2005 11:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, but that' s missing the point

Every single person on here understands that he'll eventually start hitting. What only some seem to understand is that Chavez will never put a full dominant season together...the kind of season you get paid $66 million to produce. If we have to put up with this bullshit until July 1st, we'll be 10 games out, and then BB will start unloading dudes- BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY ANYONE DUE TO CHAVVY'S CONTRACT.

I'll try not to swear.

by Tony on Apr 20, 2005 11:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Exactly.

Chavy eats up the majority of the payroll and he must live with the pressure of producing. The A's don't have $$$ to make contract mistakes. We do not have flexibility for Chavy to underproduce.

by Josh on Apr 20, 2005 11:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Exactly

In the end, Chavvy will put together a crazy streak where he hits everything in sight - has multi-homer games, pads his numbers. But this team missed the playoffs by one game. "It's early", yes - but these games count! What frustrates me with Chavez and Zito is that we had to suffer through all those stories and interviews in ST where these guys recognized that they now need to take leadership roles, etc. Well, neither one of these guys is a leader or a guy you count on at the crucial moment. Give me Harden on the mound and Kotsay at the plate.

by boilerdan on Apr 21, 2005 5:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

Chavy is a head case...

...there, I said it. Read every quote of his, observe his body language, and check out his stats in pressure situations -- late innings of close games, 2 outs with RISP, etc. He simply isn't a gamer, and likely won't ever be. Jeter may bat .200 for 6 weeks, but will still manage to win a few games with timely hits and uncannily timed defensive gems.

Sure, our tunes will change somewhat when he hits .375 with 10 dongs in July, but even most of that production will happen with the A's up or down by 4 runs or more.

FWIW, I thought signing Chavy and letting Miggy go was the right thing to do.

On another note, Ruby's first torrid stretch of hitting will almost certainly precipitate a quick trade and DJ promotion. Unfortunately, the teams in most dire need of a slugging DH are all in the West.

by Oakland East on Apr 21, 2005 7:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

Crosby

The decision to keep Chavez and let Miggy go had a lot to do with the fact that the A's had Crosby coming up. (And possibly that Chavez and Beane went to the same high school.)

by Larry E on Apr 21, 2005 5:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

Put it another way:

The bad call on the 3-1 pitch is a break for the A'S if Chavy lines the 3-2 pitch to left-center...

Nico

by Nico on Apr 21, 2005 8:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

Lame excuse but...

The pitch just before the called strike two was a ball and they were almost in exact locations. The ump was pretty inconsistent with the strike zone on that AB. However, I agree that Chavez should have at least swung at one of them because taking a called strike 3 is a chance you can't afford to take.

by keNbO on Apr 21, 2005 12:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

couple nights ago i mentioned

Kotsay would look good in the 3 hole right now to produce runs...problem is the 2 spot...maybe Ellis

"What's the ugliest part of your body...some say your nose, some say your toes, but i think it's your MIND." - Mothers of Invention

by redclay22 on Apr 20, 2005 11:34 PM PDT 0 recs

Kotsay in the 3-hole

might not have anyone to drive in. Unless he's allowed to lead-off, too, and ghost run.

Nico

by Nico on Apr 21, 2005 8:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

I missed the game

to find these marvelous straight-from-the-subconscious-to-your-door threads about the game. When I checked out the box score, my main question was how much Street blew it.

The funny thing about baseball is when your team loses, it feels like they'll never win a game, and when they win, it feels like they can't lose. In reality, we're going to lose at least 60 more games, and probably 70-80 more.

I'm taking the long view on this. I want Street to mature and find his feet, I want Haren to get Hudson-like, I want BoCro to come back and be solid. I want Calero to be healthy and come back nasty. I want Cruz to find his head and be average.

I want Zito to pitch somewhat above league-average, so he can be traded for something good.

And just maybe, if we're hanging around in contention in August, we can make a good run at this thing.

Oh yeah, i want Barton to start pummeling the ball in the minors and become and excellent 1B. And a pony. And to have Beane, Forst, and Huston Street to bring us all Garlic Fries on AN Day 2.0 either on the terrace or in the lot.

Having said, that, Chavy has looked terrible. He needs a day off and maybe to go into the 5 spot.

by Apricot on Apr 20, 2005 11:45 PM PDT 0 recs

street didn't blow it

the box score may not reflect this, but chavez and byrnes blew it for him.

by xbhaskarx on Apr 21, 2005 2:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Is it just me?

Is it just me or were Duchscherer and Street twins separated at birth?:)

by mrlebowski79 on Apr 21, 2005 12:23 AM PDT 0 recs

it's you

I don't think they look that much alike.

then again, I've met Duke so I've seen him up close. From very far away perhaps they do look more alike.

by OaklandSi on Apr 21, 2005 4:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

My spouse would not agree

When Huston Street first appeared on our TV screen I had to listen to "who is THAT? Where did HE come from? Tell me MORE about him..."

Duke doesn't get that reaction.

by boilerdan on Apr 21, 2005 5:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side

Tejeda plays in a park that is notoriously famous for producing gaudy power #'s for Right Handed batters.

Chavez is an offensive monster who will find his stroke. His April #'s are always terrible, and I still like the combination we have at 3rd with Crosby/Chavez over Tejeda/Teahen (by far)

by idriveabucket on Apr 21, 2005 3:50 AM PDT 0 recs

Unbelievable

It's like riots in the streets. Why don't you and the rest of your buddies get some pitchforks and hang Billy Beane publicly?

IT'S TWO MOTHER F***G WEEKS INTO THE SEASON!!!!

Kielty, rejuvenated by his new genetically created St.Pats Day/Oktoberfest, shows us why Billy and Ohad are geniuses.

by ohad on Apr 21, 2005 3:58 AM PDT 0 recs

Here here!!!

Put away the fire folks, it's APRIL 21st!!! We have a long way to go this season! Two weeks does not a season make!

*sigh*

by gigglingone on Apr 21, 2005 8:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

I've been caught up in riots in the streets

and, ohad, this was no riot in the streets.

Also:

(i) when you want to suggest that people might calm down, it helps to model it yourself.

(ii) the only words in the English language that fit "F***G" are fling, flong and flung; so that's "TWO MOTHER FLUNG WEEKS" then ?

by green star oakland on Apr 21, 2005 3:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah, lol

I noticed this afterwords.

I guessi should say this, but i wasn't actually screaming. I wasn't like raving mad. It's hard to explaing, you know someone is like kinda "frustrated" and they say for crying out loud, thats what i was doing.

Kielty, rejuvenated by his new genetically created St.Pats Day/Oktoberfest, shows us why Billy and Ohad are geniuses.

by ohad on Apr 21, 2005 4:03 PM PDT up 0 recs