Athletics-Tigers, ALCS Game 3 Chat
by Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 12:16

The Scott Brosius trade comes full circle as Mark Kotsay and Kenny Rogers square off at last.

Bonus: there’s Rich Harden and some other guys, too. Lineups:

Oakland Athletics
J. Kendall c
M. Kotsay cf
M. Bradley rf
F. Thomas dh
J. Payton lf
E. Chavez 3b
N. Swisher 1b
M. Scutaro ss
D. Jimenez 2b

Detroit Tigers
C. Granderson cf
C. Monroe lf
P. Polanco 2b
M. Ordonez rf
C. Guillen 1b
I. Rodriguez c
O. Infante dh
B. Inge 3b
R. Santiago ss

Comments: 101
1.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 12:28

1.  Ah, Kenny Rogers: my old nemesis. We meet again -- only this time the advantage is mine!

Well, not really, but it sounds better the way I just said.

Plus, it would be really swell if the A's were to take two of three in Detroit, so as not to render my Game 6 tickets worthless.

2.   Linkmeister
2006-10-13 12:51

2.  I know it gets chilly in the Bay Area, but are the As prepared for the Detroit weather?

3.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:05

3.  Well, as I said in my last post, Rich Harden is from Canada, so this weather is like home for him. And Kenny Rogers isn't gonna throw 97mph, so I'm not really worried about the weather slowing down the A's bats.

4.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:33

4.  OK, here comes Kotsay...

5.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:34

5.  The MLB.com radio feed is about four pitches behind TV.

6.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:35

6.  Man, nice play by Inge. The world didn't end.

7.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:37

7.  What's happened to Frank Thomas' strike zone judgement? He's swinging at pitches like he did back in April.

Well, at least he didn't swing at the HBP.

8.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:38

8.  Ugh. Jay Payton vs. Rogers is not a good matchup.

9.   xaphor
2006-10-13 13:39

9.  I think a bat flexes more when hitting a ball than Thomas' leg.

10.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:40

10.  All right, let's see what Harden's got today...

11.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:42

11.  Yuck. Not even close to the strike zone on any of those pitches.

12.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 13:42

12.  10 Not very much, if one at-bat is anything to go by.

13.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:43

13.  Get Blanton up. Now. Harden's got zippo.

14.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 13:43

14.  Listening to the radio for this game to try and change things up. Also, it's lot harder to get irritated at Fox this way.

15.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 13:46

15.  And here comes Placido Polanco, Destroyer of Worlds.

16.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:47

16.  There goes the season.

17.   xaphor
2006-10-13 13:47

17.  Fox isn't hip to the balaclava.

18.   Vishal
2006-10-13 13:48

18.  ugh. this is going to be a long game. i'm up early and everything too.

19.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 13:48

19.  13 Ken Korach and Ray Fosse agree with you, Ken. If that's any consolation.

20.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:49

20.  Well, he got an out, at least.

21.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:50

21.  Harden finally threw a changeup for a strike. Maybe he can settle down now.

22.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 13:51

22.  Another good changeup, double play.

Now the question is, can the A's score two runs off Rogers?

23.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 13:52

23.  Well, here's to hoping that's all they'll get.

And here's to hoping that it won't be all they need.

24.   Linkmeister
2006-10-13 13:52

24.  My local radio station which carries ESPN broadcasts is talking about football rather than giving me this game. What the heck?

Rogers may not be a cold-weather pitcher, so I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet.

25.   Vishal
2006-10-13 13:53

25.  two runners to third base, two runs. how come i feel like it doesn't work that way for the A's? everything seems harder for us.

26.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:01

26.  rogers is throwing strikes.

27.   Jon Weisman
2006-10-13 14:04

27.  Too late for a fast?

28.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:07

28.  [27]at this point, it'd be winter-long.

29.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:13

29.  what happened to the supposedly free-swinging tigers?? or is harden not even close to the zone when he misses.

30.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:13

30.  I'm getting close to starting one.

31.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:14

31.  It is a mystery to me why Rich Harden is still in the ballgame. After that first inning, you have to be ready to pull him at the first sign of trouble.

32.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:14

32.  Harden got squeezed against Santiago. He wasn't even close on Granderson.

33.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:16

33.  phew.

34.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:17

34.  nice pitch by Harden

35.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:17

35.  I am doing an audio fast now.

36.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:18

36.  i hate umpires. generally it seems that you get borderline calls if you're in the zone, but if you're a little wild then you're screwed on the close ones. the fact that you need the close ones more when you're wild aside, a strike should be a strike.

37.   Ravenscar
2006-10-13 14:18

37.  Holy cow. I didn't expect that to end as with the small amount of pain (pitch count) that it did.

Rally the A's?

38.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:19

38.  is it weird to root for a traditional team, but wonder/kind of root for a saber team?

39.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:19

39.  We're due for something clutch...

40.   xaphor
2006-10-13 14:21

40.  35. You call that a sacrifice. I praise the lord and the glory of the mute button at the start of every Fox telecast.

41.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:22

41.  40 I was listening to the A's radio broadcast.

42.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:23

42.  [38] i think you just root for who you root for. i don't root for teams because of their philosophy. on the other hand, watching say, the angels play is really annoying.

43.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:23

43.  Maybe I should be fasting Mark Kotsay, too. I'm on a Kotsay fast!

44.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:23

44.  if anything i'm use to Steve "spycho" Lyons

45.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:23

45.  No more Kotsay until he gets an RBI.

46.   mehmattski
2006-10-13 14:25

46.  You know, it's pretty sad when Buck/McCarver/Gonzalez is the easier crew to listen to.

Also, who is this guy, and what has he done with Kenny Rogers? Seriously. Kenny Rogers?!?

47.   Vishal
2006-10-13 14:25

47.  ugh, how is kenny rogers striking our guys out with his crappy stuff?

48.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:28

48.  42

i've said it on DT i'm rooting for Detriot no doubt but i'm aldo wondering how far the A's can go.

49.   Ravenscar
2006-10-13 14:28

49.  I'm sorry to say this, but it seems like Kenny Rogers will not feel true defeat until the Mets pay him back.

But honestly, for the sake of Ken, I'll sacrifice our revenge for a beat-down by the A's here.

50.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:29

50.  I hate say this, but next time Polanco is up, he needs to be drilled in the ribs. He's way tog comfortable against A's pitching.

51.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:29

51.  45 I think I'm going to fast Placido Polanco.

I won't watch him until he stops pummelling the A's.

52.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:29

52.  Tog=too. Anything else he hate to say?

53.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:30

53.  47

if anything look at his delivery it does not change if it's a curve or a fastball that's the difference.IMO.

54.   mehmattski
2006-10-13 14:30

54.  I guess that's what happens when you keep your ears warm. Polanco looks like he should be a Knight of the Round Table.

55.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:30

55.  he=we. I need to fast my keyboard.

56.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 14:31

56.  Why is Harden still pitching? It's time for Blanton.

57.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:32

57.  50

I thought saber guys don't think that way Ken??

58.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:33

58.  When does it become silly to keep referring to the now-boney Ivan Rodriguez as "Pudge?"

59.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:34

59.  They're not really hitting Harden. The hits they've gotten have been well-placed softly hit balls. The only problem has been the walks.

60.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 14:35

60.  Only 14 pitches for Harden that inning, I think. Face on me.

61.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:35

61.  57 Saber guys favor thrusts and parries and scoring touches even with the edge of the blade.

62.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:35

62.  57 I'm not a saber guy.

63.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:38

63.  62 I favor the foil myself.

64.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:39

64.  Another thing I hate to say: Rogers is painting another masterpiece today. This is brilliant pitching.

Man, I hate that dude.

65.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 14:40

65.  Jay Pay's not doing a good job of working the count today.

66.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:41

66.  65 That's never his strong suit -- Payton's a pretty aggressive batter, and most of the time, it works out pretty well for him.

67.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:42

67.  62

do you question the A's not doing the basics?

68.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:42

68.  That was a perfect pitch sequence to Chavez. The Tigers have been outsmarting the A's all series long.

69.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:43

69.  67 What do you mean by "the basics"?

70.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:47

70.  69
hit & run, bunt the guy over & so forth

71.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 14:49

71.  The "little things," like cleanly fielding grounders, covering first base...

72.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:50

72.  Well, it appears the A's were saving up all their postseason blunders for this series.

73.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:50

73.  71

& covering 2nd base on a stolen base

74.   das411
2006-10-13 14:52

74.  WOW how long has the Oakland SS been wearing that ski hat over his cap? Is that allowed??

75.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:52

75.  Let's turn that Kotsay catch into a momentum shifter.

76.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 14:53

76.  Or that Kotsay catch. Either one will work really.

77.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 14:54

77.  76

nice catch.

78.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 14:57

78.  That stuff doesn't bother me so much. The A's don't have the personnel to make that sort of thing a successful strategy.

The sabermetric thing that bothers me the most is when there's a runner on third and less than two outs, and the batter takes a "let's get a walk" approach to the plate, when what you need is for them to put the ball in play.

That's been less of a problem in the last couple years with Kendall, Kotsay, and Payton. Those guys can put a ball in play. Now if only that would rub off on Crosby and Swisher, we'd be really golden.

79.   das411
2006-10-13 14:59

79.  Hahaha "he probably hates strawberries too!", nice!

80.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 15:00

80.  78 Well, the problem with Swisher's approach in that situation isn't that he has the "let's get a walk" mentality -- it's the "I must swing from my heels" attitude that's problematic.

But your point is well taken.

81.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 15:00

81.  So much for momentum.

82.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 15:01

82.  78 Did you read Three Nights in August? LaRussa would agree with you; he emphasized swinging at the first good pitch to hit when you have an RBI opp.

83.   underdog
2006-10-13 15:02

83.  Jimenez is... not going to put the fear of God in most pitchers. Bummer.

C'mon A's! Dagnabbit, I wanted a series out of this one.

84.   bearlurker
2006-10-13 15:02

84.  Darn it, did Rogers only make 6 pitches that inning? I'm beginning to see why the Reds waived Jimenez.

85.   underdog
2006-10-13 15:04

85.  61 "Ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!" {{Whack}}

86.   Ken Arneson
2006-10-13 15:04

86.  All right, I'm done. I got work to do. No sense wasting any more time on this.

87.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 15:08

87.  78 The A's don't have the personnel to make that sort of thing a successful strategy.

do you guys have a guy like LoDuca short swing puts the ball in play to all fields? & does not strike out alot?

88.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 15:10

88.  All right, I'm done. I got work to do. No sense wasting any more time on this.

shame on you Ken!!

ps i feel like Tommy Lasorda saying that.

89.   Vishal
2006-10-13 15:11

89.  the A's "do the little things" just fine on defense, anyway.

it doesn't matter how many runs harden gives up if we don't score any.

90.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 15:19

90.  89

they haven't shown it so far.

91.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 15:24

91.  We are seeing far too much of Chad Gaudin in this series.

92.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 15:32

92.  91

you say it like it's a bad thing

93.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 15:33

93.  92 It suggests that the starters are not working late into the game and -- given Macha's usage patterns -- that there isn't much a lead to protect.

So yes, it is a bad thing.

94.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 15:57

94.  93

if anything you don't have Tomko to give up a bomb in the 7th. or do you?

95.   underdog
2006-10-13 16:06

95.  It's a bad thing because it often means the A's are losing, which is a bad thing because, well, they need to win.

Speaking of which, the bottom of the lineup, wow, it isn't good.

96.   underdog
2006-10-13 16:08

96.  Only having one backup infielder in the series can't be helping much either. Maybe Jimenez will prove me wrong here.

97.   das411
2006-10-13 16:15

97.  Sweet, that kid is actually making his debut in this game, awesome!

98.   Philip Michaels
2006-10-13 16:29

98.  Kind of hard to get excited about foregone conclusions.

99.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 16:33

99.  my paisano's from Detriot are happy as birds.

100.   underdog
2006-10-13 16:33

100.  Wake me up when the World Series starts. Actually, nah, not even then.

101.   Bluebleeder87
2006-10-13 16:58

101.  Old bear would be proud?

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