Opening Day!!!

[Buffalo A's fan]

Well, sort of. In just under 6 and a half hours, the A's will open the season in Japan against Boston. 6am my time, 3am most Oakland fans time.

Anyone going to be up watching? I might, if I can get my ass out of bed, if not, I'll set the DVR before bed and avoid the computers and TV.


Any predictions/thoughts? Boston will probably win, they're very good, again, and Dice-K pitching in his homeland, sets up for, not good, for the Athletics.

For the hell of it,

Boston 4

Oakland 5


GO A's!!

[k_dol8990]

yea, great game. emil brown needs to learn to run the bases when we're down by a run. we should have won this game, but lets look at the positives.

Foulke pitched well.
Barton had 3 walks.
and Both Ellis and Hannahan hit homeruns.

however we did look very pathetic at the plate at times,
cust with 4, yes FOUR K's.
both Suzuki and Buck had 2 K's

but overall i'd say it was a great season opener.

[JerseySoxFan19]

Yeah it was a good game. You guys put up a quite a fight for all the young guys on that team. I think you guys have a chance this year.

[Imgran]

Well they certainly will have a chance whenever Blanton's on the mound.

Lester against Harden tomorrow.

[k_dol8990]

emil brown needs to learn, i thought he was supposed to be a "veteran" presence, i say we put him in AAA and we should have signed todd linden, i bet he would have stayed at second knowing we were down by a run.

[JerseySoxFan19]

Well Emil Brown is used to playing with KC where that stuff is mandatory or at least it looks that way.

[Zito75]

Suzuki stole a base! I bet that's the first time an A's catcher has ever lead the league in swipes! :rofl:

[k_dol8990]

Suzuki stole a base! I bet that's the first time an A's catcher has ever lead the league in swipes! :rofl:

hahahahaha yea thats definetly a first.:thumbsup:

[Zito75]

Well Emil Brown is looking good so far- So is Jack Hanahan.

How about Harden today!!! Hope he can stay healthy! :candle:

[Buffalo A's fan]

I was honestly impressed with the team this morning. I know it's only 2 games in and you can't take a whole lot from it, but they really have a chance to be better than I thought. Especially if the pitching holds up. It's also looking like Sweeny might be a great pick up if we find some time in the lineup.

Harden was fantastic. If him and Blanton pitch well, we just might be ok. Hopefully Richie can stay healthy...but I'm not getting my hopes up on that.

I'll certainly take a split with the Red Sox though.

[raiderjohn]

I'm excited about the next few seasons. I think there will be growing pains like base running blunders(Emil Brown.....never in a million years, thought it'd be you), defensive lapses. It's inexperience. Being in the race would be nice, but would love to us improve as the season goes on, fewer and fewer mistakes as the season progresses is what I'll be watching.

[mlazar]

I'm excited about the next few seasons. I think there will be growing pains like base running blunders(Emil Brown.....never in a million years, thought it'd be you), defensive lapses. It's inexperience. Being in the race would be nice, but would love to us improve as the season goes on, fewer and fewer mistakes as the season progresses is what I'll be watching.

me too, I'm looking forward to Carlos Gonzalez hopefully in CF soon, Suzuki becoming a top flight catcher, Barton, Buck,showing what they can do. Dusch and Eveland should be interesting to watch as starters.....Foulke, Embree @ Casilla look potentially solid...if Chavez,Gaudin ,Crosby,Harden and Street remained injury free and had the kind of years they are capable of :confused: there is no reason they shouldn't be a very competitive team....

[raiderjohn]

me too, I'm looking forward to Carlos Gonzalez hopefully in CF soon, Suzuki becoming a top flight catcher, Barton, Buck,showing what they can do. Dusch and Eveland should be interesting to watch as starters.....Foulke, Embree @ Casilla look potentially solid...if Chavez,Gaudin ,Crosby,Harden and Street remained injury free and had the kind of years they are capable of :confused: there is no reason they shouldn't be a very competitive team....

...oh yea, no doubt, if those guys are healthy it will be a close race, then maybe with a prospect we rent the guy we need to get over the top.....if not, we have several vet role pieces(Embree, Ellis, Foulke, Sweeney, Brown) to move for a prospect or 2(it'd be nice if we can mine out a solid MI prospect). So Beane has a couple options as the trade deadline approaches. But we're in a lot better shape than we were back last September.

[raiderjohn]

....and with the way the Angels have started injury wise, Lackey, Escobar, Shields, who knows, maybe it's a sign of things to come for them. 88-90 wins may be all it takes for a division title.

[k_dol8990]

....and with the way the Angels have started injury wise, Lackey, Escobar, Shields, who knows, maybe it's a sign of things to come for them. 88-90 wins may be all it takes for a division title.

i dont know, so far the Angels pitching staff has been hurting, but their line up is STACKED especially in the outfield. i think our best hope is for the wild card seed.

[raiderjohn]

i dont know, so far the Angels pitching staff has been hurting, but their line up is STACKED especially in the outfield. i think our best hope is for the wild card seed.

True, with good depth too. Hunter starts in center. Anderson/Rivera/Willits/Matthews in left, Vlad in right. Scioscia has always been a master of getting everyone involved, getting them proper rest. Scary OF to say the least. Balancing Anderson's age, Vlad's injuries, Matthews/Willits defense, Rivera's stick......

Just read something that Gonzalez will start in center for us when the US part of the schedule opens up.

[Zito75]

Just read something that Gonzalez will start in center for us when the US part of the schedule opens up.

I heard that too. He's a potential 5 tool star, so I am thrilled to see how well he starts off.

[Zito75]

i dont know, so far the Angels pitching staff has been hurting, but their line up is STACKED especially in the outfield. i think our best hope is for the wild card seed.

Garrett Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. are both dealing with injuries. With any luck, we can take advantage of that. (IMO, Matthews had his career year a while back- he's done!)

[mlazar]

Garrett Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. are both dealing with injuries. With any luck, we can take advantage of that. (IMO, Matthews had his career year a while back- he's done!)

Mathews is the luckiest player in MLB :

On February 27, 2007, the Times Union, an Albany, New York newspaper, reported an investigation regarding a steroid ring that involved more than two dozen doctors, pharmacists and business owners who have been, or will be, arrested in Alabama, Texas, Florida and New York. The investigation uncovered evidence that testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs were purchased by current and former MLB players, NFL players, college athletes, high school coaches, a former Mr. Olympia champion and another leading contender in the bodybuilding competition. One of the baseball players named was Gary Matthews, Jr.

In coordination with the team's wish that Matthews make a statement on the matter, he denied using HGH. Why Not ? :confused: The Angels had reportedly threatened to void Matthew's five-year, $50 million contract if he didn't give a response to the allegations. If he in fact took human growth hormone (HGH) prior to its addition to Major League Baseball's "banned substances list" in 2005, then he would be "grandfathered in," therefore resulting in no punishment but a stern warning, if anything, never to use HGH or any other substance banned by MLB in an attempt to further enhance his playing abilities.

he will never put up the #'s he did back then.....

[Zito75]

he will never put up the #'s he did back then.....

That's what I'm saying. The 'roid use has caught up with him, a la Jose Canseco.

[raiderjohn]

I heard that too. He's a potential 5 tool star, so I am thrilled to see how well he starts off.

ANG said A's have not optioned him and will take a good look at him the next 3 games. Hopefully if we commit to him now, we stick with him through the slumps and mistakes, I'd hate to put him on the Sacramento shuttle.

[raiderjohn]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=30102&pg=2

"The biggest surprise may still be to come, as Carlos Gonzalez, who didn't make the trip to Japan because of a hamstring injury, could be the team's center fielder for the first game back in the U.S. Neither Ryan Sweeney nor Denorfia has impressed, though Denorfia has been the better of the two and still deserves more time to shake the rust from a lost 2007. Going to Gonzalez seems like a very bad idea. There's little to indicate that he's ready, and even if he is, the A's would have a lot to gain in future years by waiting a while to start his arbitration clock. If he's the choice, a .260-.270 average with decent power could follow, but he'd have subpar run and RBI numbers while hitting low in the lineup and his poor OBP would hurt the A's as a whole."

[mlazar]

Gonzalez is going to Sacramento...but I bet he'll be back soon...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=25299
SFGate: Oakland Athletics : The Drumbeat : Gonzalez sent out with Fiorentino, Braden

[k_dol8990]

I'm going to tuesday's game against Boston, is anyone else going to be there?

[mlazar]

I'm going to tuesday's game against Boston, is anyone else going to be there?

I'm going on Wed.... I can only go to day games...:)

[Zito75]

You guys are both lucky... I missed the A's when they came to Tucson this year. I think they are due to come to Phoenix this summer though.

[raiderjohn]

I'm going to tuesday's game against Boston, is anyone else going to be there?

headed out there Saturday and Sunday, I don't expect more than 20,000 both days. Anyone know based on last year if showing up at 9:30 for bobblehead days is too late to get a 'head for a 1pm game?

[mlazar]

headed out there Saturday and Sunday, I don't expect more than 20,000 both days. Anyone know based on last year if showing up at 9:30 for bobblehead days is too late to get a 'head for a 1pm game?

even though I haven't gotten a bobblehead since Tejada's 5 years ago, you will have no problem getting one if you are in the waiting line at 9:30-10:30... gates won't open until 11:00 for the game, so you will definetly be safe.... Who's bobblehead day is it ?

[k_dol8990]

i think travis buck's bobble head is coming up.


i really want to get all the jersey's they're giving away this season.

[k_dol8990]

oh yea, and did anyone see the Angel's lose today? felt good to see because we probally wont see much of it hahahaha!

[raiderjohn]

oh yea, and did anyone see the Angel's lose today? felt good to see because we probally wont see much of it hahahaha!

Hahaa, definitely nice to see them losing....no less a typical 3-2 game. With their lineup, you'd think they'd be good for more than 2 runs a night. figgins-Vlad, Garret, Hunter.......

[Buffalo A's fan]

Oakland falls to 1-2 after a home opener loss to Boston.

Buck was 0-4 4 Ks...pathetic.

The top 3 guys in the order were a combined 0-12 with 8 Ks....thats horrid.





Hopefully they get over that, and step it up when I go up to Toronto next Thursday to see them take on the Jays.

[Buffalo A's fan]

Aaaaaand another awful offensive performance today against Boston. We got shutout, and got like 4 hits.

I have a bad feeling this might be a trend for us this year, since we really don't have many good solid hitters.