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Friday, April 29, 2011

A's v. Angels Series Recap

Well, that sucked.

Hmmm. How to put this. The A's tried to do everything possible that they could in order to get swept down at the Big A, but they still managed to win one. I guess I should feel.... satisfied? I'm not sure. I strangely don't. The trip to Anaheim/Los Angeles/Orange County/Knott's Berry Farm was not a very productive one, and the Athletics return home with a 3-4 record on the road trip. I look at that and think, 3-4 on the road? Well, that's not terrible. Then I remember that two losses came against the Mariners, and one came against a pitcher called Chatwood. It was not the road trip they needed, but perhaps it was the one they deserved.

After doing so well those final two games in Seattle, the offense only managed 5 runs in Anaheim. It hurt, in more ways than one, but....


Thursday, April 28, 2011

9 Stages of Season-Ending Loss / David After the Penguins

Well, as at least 4 of you know by now, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their season is over and I will now go in to a deep emotional hibernation.

The Penguins not only lost 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7, they blew a 3-1 series lead while scoring 4 goals in the last three games and going 0-35 on the Power Play. It's just staggering.

You four no-doubt know that the Penguins played much of their season and all of this playoff series without their two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. That would be like the Giants entering the postseason without Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. It just wasn't going to happen.

Nonetheless, watching your team's season end is always a sobering experience. Obviously we've all done it -- a lot. Even if you've prepared yourself for it several hours in advance, there's always that glimmer of hope until the final horn. And once that horn sounds, you know your fate. Instead of watching the Penguins play hockey on Friday, you'll be forced to watch a made-for-TV movie on William and Kate. Payback's a bitch, says KB.


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Comparing MLB to Classic Rock Songs

My playlist is still stuck on decades past, so let's look at each team's 2011, and what song it looks like one month into the season.

So please, enjoy.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Why the Angels Will Win the World Series

I wanted to first explain that I wrote this story last week, when the Angels had the second best record in baseball. Then the Red Sox came to town, and every optimistic bone in my body was crushed by a succession of poor performances at the plate and in the field. We couldn't hit. We couldn't catch routine fly balls. Hope was fading. Boston fans, you need to tone it down. You can't just waltz into someone's stadium and start cheering louder than the home crowd. The sounds coming from the TV after Youkilis hit one into the bleachers made me feel like Happy Gilmore watching Shooter McGavin french his Gene Simmons-masked grandmother. I just wanted to scream, hack at some weeds and throw a rock into a pond. But all is not lost! The Halos kicked off the back-end of this homestand with a bang. Weaver threw his second consecutive complete game, this time a shutout. Sorry, Eric. Jered's 6-0 record leads the league, as do his 49 strikeouts and .99 ERA. I was worried that getting swept by the "Sox Nation" on our own turf would tarnish my claims, but things are looking up. Everything's back to normal and my arguments remain valid. So read on if you want to find out why the Angels will win the World Series. ***Note that stats are from April 21***


Monday, April 25, 2011

A's v. Mariners Series Recap

I thought about titling this post: "A's Do Just Enough to Remain Mediocre," Because that's the infuriating thing that they keep doing. They lose two, then just when I'm ready to sound the alarm, the offense erupts for nine runs, and then the next day Fuentes gets a key out, and the offense does enough to secure a series split. And now, I am left shaking my head, wondering what to make of a team that seems to be a playoff contender some nights, and seems to be a sick, slow-moving Brontosaurus other nights.

I still am a firm believer in this team. I think that the pitching is good enough to keep them in every single game. I think that this offense is capable of scoring runs. Not 6 a night, but enough to win ballgames. And that's where it's really at, isn't it?

The best thing about this series? Trevor Cahill. The A's entered his start on a three game skid and desperately needed a strong outing. After a rough first and second, Cahill settled down and was the ace the team needed.

It feels like Bob Geren and the A's have finally entered into something of a rhythm on the young season. With the exception of third base, the A's know who's going to play where and bat where. To me, it seems that the bench guys are happy in their roles, and that the team knows its direction, they just need to get things clicking to compete with the big boys. So, here's what happened over the weekend in Seattle.

Giants vs. Braves: Series Recap

Well that sucked.

It seems the Easter Bunny hid a lot more than candy from the San Francisco Giants.

After playing arguably their best ball of the season in Arizona and Colorado, the Giants promptly flushed all momentum down the toilet after being swept at home by the Atlanta Braves.
He's just crazy enough to do it...
There are a lot of reasons this weekend didn't go well. In probably the most encouraging moment of the series, KB suggested, "maybe the Braves are just paying them back for the playoffs. See! I remembered they played the Braves in the playoffs!" I seriously feel like Henry Higgins sometimes. And she is my Eliza Doolittle. "The hit and run stays mainly on the #2 hitter."

Playoff redemption certainly could have had something to do with it. I'm sure the Braves were amped to play the team that ended their season.

But more than that was the fact that the Giants just aren't playing very well. Their offense is their offense. Like a John Cusak movie, we know what we're going to get there. The real issue is they've had inconsistent starting pitching (particularly from Bumgarner) and their defense simply isn't playing at the level that a team build on starting pitching requires. A team built around starting pitching and winning low scoring games needs, at worst, average defense. And you can't spell Miguel Tejada without spelling "Jamtag" which in Finnish of course means "below-average defense."

Friday, April 22, 2011

San Francisco Giants Week 3 in Review

As Sly Stone once said, "Time needs another minute, at least."

To KB's delight and my dismay, we're almost about one-tenth of the way through the baseball season.

The good news is, the Giants haven't yet played their best baseball. The bad news is, the Giants haven't yet played their best baseball.

Through their first 18 games, the Giants are a respectable 10-8. It's nothing to write home about, but considering their 1-4 start and a bevy of injuries, the Giants have done well to climb back above .500.

To put things in perspective, through 18 games in 2010, they were, wouldn't you know it, 10-8. And in yet another striking similarity to 2010, the Giants just wrapped up their third consecutive April series in which they won the first two games and lost the third to the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Rockies. Last year at this time, they won the first two and lost the third to the Cardinals, Phillies and Rockies. If the Giants are looking for a repeat I'd say they're off to a decent start.

While the G-men may not yet be clicking on all cylinders, their recent 6 game road trip was certainly the most consistent ball they've played this season. They averaged over 5 runs per game, a stat worth celebrating, and 20 of the runs didn't come in a single lopsided victory as we're used to seeing.

Aubrey Huff looks like a new man after having been relieved of his duties in Right Field. While his average is still abysmal, he hit safely in four of the six games and drove in five runs. Most importantly, he hit his first two home runs of the year. It was obvious that Huff's defensive mishaps were affecting his confidence at the plate. Now back in his natural habitat, the Water Buffalo will begin doing what water buffaloes do best: bathe in mud.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

A's v. Red Sox Series Recap

So Frank and I both felt that weekly recaps were just to intense, long, and worthless. So here is the first of the reformatted recaps, where we take a look back at the past series.

The A's finished their recent homestand by splitting a pair against the Boston Red Sox. Though Tuesday's game was a complete effort for the A's that had me ready to write some rave reviews, Wednesday as very much a frustrating disappointment in many ways. Here's what happened:

The Best Playoffs in Sports

It's April. And we all know what that means.

It's time to file your taxes, clean out your garage, and admire the sudden arrival of hockey fans in the Bay Area.

It's easy to understand why ice hockey isn't extremely popular in the Bay Area. For one, hardly anyone plays it. Kids don't grow up playing hockey the way they do in other parts of the country. If a Bay Area kid in mid-January has a choice of watching a Sharks, Warriors or Raiders game, which would he choose? Well, probably none of them. He'd probably tweet a 3D YouTube video of himself shotgunning a 4-Loco. But that's beside the point.

No, the NHL barely registers in the Bay Area from July to March, but when April rolls around and the Sharks enter the playoffs yet again, we get a small taste of what place like Detroit and Buffalo enjoy year-round. Minus the sub-zero temperatures and everyone looking like they want to hurt you.

I'm no hockey expert. I follow the Penguins pretty closely, but that's about it. I'm pretty indifferent toward the Sharks. I watch them a lot, because they're the only team on, but I'm not going to be the on a Muni bus when the win the Stanley Cup. But if the Penguins can't get it done, the Sharks winning the Stanley Cup would be a great thing for hockey in the Bay Area.

Regardless of what team you support, how much you know about hockey or how many minutes you can keep the TV on Versus before your girlfriend changes it to House Hunters International, there is one thing we can all agree on: The Stanley Cup playoffs are far and away, without doubt the most exciting post-season in American professional sports. And I'm here to tell you why.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sharks Pull One Out of Their Collective Butts

The Sharks did the unthinkable last night. After going down 4-0 at the end of the first period, they scored five goals in the second, and then won it, 6-5 in overtime. Take a listen.... here's the highlights on the radio, it's pretty amazing.
LINK

I really would have loved to be in that locker room after the first. I'm willing to bet that Coach McClellan sounded something like this:


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tim Lincecum runs 28th 10K, takes History lesson

As I listened to Tim Lincecum's 28th 10+ strikeout game, I couldn't help but wonder where exactly it ranks in baseball history. As we've all heard by now, he has tied "First Five" Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson for most 10K games in Giants history.

But where does it rank outside Giants history?

Monday, April 18, 2011

A's Week In Review #3

Another week, and a greater than .500 record, against some pretty outstanding competition. I love these Athletics. I've loved them since I can remember. Since Dave Stewart signed that ball so my Dad could give it to me as the best 4th birthday present ever. Since Jason Giambi took the time, as a young lean rookie, to sign a piece of copy paper for the kid staring at him in the elevator before his appearance on Gameday for KPIX. Since pitching coach Bob Cluck asked me to correctly answer the amount of home runs Mark McGwire hit in 1996, and tossed me a ball for my efforts. And since Dallas Braden tossed a ball up into the stands at Phoenix Municipal this last spring. This team is always fun, always unpredictable, and always keeps you wanting more. And with this in mind, we take a look back at week three of the 2011 season, where the A's went 4-3, and improved their record to 8-8 overall.

NBA Playoffs in Full Swing

Some say that October is the greatest sports month. World Series, NFL underway, college football in full swing, NBA and NHL about ready to start. However, it occurs to me that April is pretty awesome too. Baseball begins, NCAA basketball ends, NBA and NHL playoffs, football spring practices and NFL draft, it's some pretty sweet times for sports fans!

So we've already done a post about the NHL, which means we can only rep the NBA as well. So, here we go, one game in: first round preview of the LONGEST playoffs every year.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Why Minor League Baseball Rules...

Anything goes.


We know now how they will one day defeat us.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1 Predictions

At the request of one of our most attractive readers, it is time we inform you about he goings on in the world of the National Hockey League.

As some of you may be marginally aware, hockey, originally known as "ice canes" is a sport played on an ice rink with "sticks" and "pucks". The idea being to hit the puck with your stick into the goal without icing, roughing, hooking, tripping, slashing, fighting, synthesizing nuclear fusion, or high sticking.

San Francisco Giants Week #2 in Review

*Note*: Showtime's TV series on the Giants, The Franchise, aired its preview last night. While I was initially skeptical, I can't say I didn't enjoy the last 30 minutes. I sure do love this team: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=13761045&c_id=sf

It's been a roller coaster week for the San Francisco Giants.

Their 5-3 record over the past 8 games has seen the Giants reach the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. On the field, they've seen consecutive walk-off wins and consecutive blowout losses. Off the field, they raised their championship banner, received their World Series rings, presented Buster Posey with his Rookie of the Year award, issued a plea for fan civility and held a pre-game presentation to commemorate the end of their pre-game presentations.

It's been a strange week. A hectic week. An emotional week. And the results reflect that.

All things considered, though, the Giants must see the last week as a success overall. They split two games with the Padres, took two of three from the Cardinals and two of three from the Dodgers. They're 5-3 since their embarrassing debut in Los Angeles, and while there are clearly not yet in a groove, they have to believe they're getting closer.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

A's Week In Review #2

Things are looking more shipshape in the world of the Oakland Athletics. So far they've gone 3-3 on this nine game road trip, taking one from the Blue Jays and two of three from the Twins. I'm finding, especially after the last two days have resulted in wins, that this team might truly meet the lofty expectations set for them preseason. I would like that very much. I'm in good mood about it currently. Last Tuesday, I could not say the same thing, after Balfour blew a game we had in hand. But, we'll stay positive for now.

We can no longer say that it's early. with Braden's start tomorrow, we'll have completed nearly 1/16 of the season. Though the newness hasn't worn off quite yet, the long feeling of summer is about to set in. And with the Rangers beginning their season 8-1 with an offense that looks near unstoppable, it looks like we're going to have to hold down the accelerator all through the dog days.


Friday, April 8, 2011

Baseball Is Alive!

MY DEAR LORD.

Welcome home. Here is your team. I hope you got your rest during the off season.

I would have left work an hour ago were it not for this ridiculous baseball game. I knew as soon as I left work they'd lose, so I forced myself to stay.

I started writing this post with the Giants up 4-3 heading into the 9th. I didn' want jinx anything, but I was feeling pretty good. Then, after the Cardinals went ahead, I wrote this lead:

"With two outs and nobody on in the 9th inning, the Giants still find a way to screw things up and open their home with perhaps the most excruciating loss imaginable. Yay!"

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

San Francisco Giants: Week In Review

There's the Giants I know and love.

I realized as soon as Aubrey Huff grounded into a first pitch double play on Thursday night that it's been nearly 6 months since any of us could say anything bad about the Giants. They've been immaculate, perfect, infallible. And I'm just not used to it. Being unable to complain about the Giants is like being a fish out of water. It's unnatural. As one writer so poetically put it, the World Series perfection was the exception. Now, we're back to the rule.

And I don't say this to be a downer. It's just the way baseball is! The greatest hitters in history failed 70% of the time. Baseball is a game of constant success and disappointment. And feeling and expressing the emotion, be it good or bad, is what being a fan is all about. Screams of "You lazy sod!" are as much the soundtrack to summer as a radio broadcaster's home run call.

Sanchez's face says it all.

So, on the heels of Eric's recap of the Oakland Athletics, we head westward to break down the San Francisco Giants' 2011 opening weekend. It's long, but it's meant to last you a week!

Monday, April 4, 2011

UConn-Butler Postgame Thoughts

None. It was an anticlimactic end to a great season. Congrats to UConn. See you next season, NCAA Hoops.


A's Week In Review

So, here we go, the inaugural recap of this week in Athletics baseball. Let's make magic.

This week:

Mariners 5, A's 2
Cahill was brilliant but only able to last 4 and 2/3s before reaching the century mark. Willingham's first inning 2 run bomb was the only offense of the evening. King Felix looked like a Cy Young winner.

Mariners 6, A's 2
The A's wasted another great starting performance from Brett Anderson. The offense was largely silent and poor outings from Breslow and Fuentes combined with a costly Daric Barton error doomed the A's to loss number 2.

A's 7, Mariners 1
After giving up a solo shot to Ryan Langerhans, Gio Gonzalez was brilliant for 7 innings. Jerry Blevins finished things off nicely. The sun helped out a couple times, but it looked like the A's understood how to play baseball.

1-2 is not the best way to start the season, but hopefully the cobwebs have now been dusted off. And in good news, the A's are undefeated in their Gold Jerseys!


Sunday, April 3, 2011

First Impressions of the 2011 San Francisco Giants


Now, now -- the Giants don't suck. But after dropping 3 of 4 in Los Angeles, there are certainly some things to think about as the season gets going.

Battle of the Pups Preview

Tomorrow we get to see Bulldogs and Huskies run around after a bright orange ball on the hardwood.

How fun will that be? But all woofing aside, we get to see Butler continue to do it's best Milan High impression and attempt to take down the giant of the University of Connecticut. Read on for some quick thoughts.

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Season Ahead

Well, the Giants failed to win their opener last night, but that's why they play 162 of them. Cain will pick them up tonight in what is sure to be another fantastic game.

The real story here, of course, is that it is time for the Oakland A's to begin their campaign. Tonight, Trevor Cahill squares off against 2010 Cy Young recipient Felix Hernandez. I fully expect an 8 inning pitching duel between the two. If the A's can get Felix's pitch count up, however, they may have some fun with the soft Seattle 'pen.

Dear followers, looking ahead We're In This Thing has great plans to follow baseball all season. Frankie and I will post a weekly recap. His will focus on the Giants and the NL, while mine will focus on the A's and the AL. I'm not sure what day Frankie will have for his, but the A's recap will be a Tuesday or Wednesday post. There may be extra posts for large events, but we're going to not try and overwhelm our faithful.

A result of this will be to allow us to post more on other sports. Look for hockey and basketball playoff previews and other remarks about the sports landscape throughout the whole summer. We're excited and we hope you are too.

Tonight's prediction - A's 4, Seattle 2. Trevor Cahill starts off his season right with 8 IP, 7 strikeouts, and one mistake to Justin Smoak. Matsui hits a solo shot and drives in another for the A's.

Let's go Oakland!