Bored

A minor concern of mine going into this season about the A's was Barry Zito. He struck out 8.6 batters per nine innings in 2001 but was all the way down to 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings last season. Even in his seemingly good outing against the Angels last Sunday Night something didn't seem right with him. Tonight he faces the Angels again and they've scored already nine runs in four innings and already completely blown out the A's tonight. Obviously tonight isn't the norm and every pitcher has an outing where they just get shelled. But for whatever reason he is just not the same pitcher he was two or three years ago. It can't be age as he turns 26 next month. It's not arm problems as he's been the healthiest of the Big Three to this point and the A's do a very good job with not over using their pitchers in their first couple of years in the league. It's possibly a lack of focus as he seems more concerned with off the field projects like music and acting during the offseason than pitching.

$1 Wednesday's actually ended before last season and attendance still went up.

Now starting for your Saskatchewan Roughriders....

I'll give you a sack of magic beans for him.

thus continues his 14 game hitting streak~! Nope, it ended at 12 the previous night.

Their job is to win the game not help a guy break records. ESPN UDPATE ESPN UPDATE ESPN UPDATE Bonds hasn't homered but we'll keep you updated and show you every single pointless at bat!!!! Oh the Giants are getting their asses handed to them and have the stench of a 90 loss team. But we're ESPN, who cares who wins these games? Oh and booooooo Jake Peavy struck him out, how dare they call Barry out on strikes! (Exagerration of what John Kruk just said on Baseball Tonight) I see, it's all Bonds' fault this is happening. Damn him for being great. Keep in mind, my post wasn't a complaint, just an observation. My real complaint is none of the other 8 guys on the field doing anything with the bat. Does it make you feel better that I (a Giant fan) acknowledge it or do you need Stuart Scott to tell you the Giants stink? "The media is favoring the biggest star in _______." Shocking. With all the complaints about ESPN you'd think people would avoid it. I like poking fun at ESPN's hype machine and I was just about to post it when I saw your post. I do think it is a complete insult to just ignore the score and only focus on one player, no matter who he is. Unless he's trying to hit #756 I don't give a shit. Anyways Kruk said (might not be exact words) "how can they call Barry Bonds out on strikes?" and I just lost it.

Oh what the hell, here are YOUR 15 games into the season All-Stars. American League C: Javy Lopez, Baltimore 1B: Mike Sweeney, Kansas City 2B: Ronnie Belliard, Cleveland 3B: Hank Blalock, Texas SS: Michael Young, Texas OF: Carlos Beltran, Kansas City; Jermaine Dye, Oakland; Matt Lawton, Cleveland National League C: Michael Barrett, Chicago 1B: Jeff Bagwell, Houston 2B: Marcus Giles, Atlanta 3B: Scott Rolen, St. Louis SS: Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh OF: Barry Bonds, San Francisco; Adam Dunn, Cincinnati; Moises Alou, Chicago

Jermaine Dye saves the day with a two run double in the 9th and makes a nice catch in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Speaking of teams stinking, this series against the Mariners is driving me nuts. A's offense hasn't been pathetic tonight, not great, but good enough to win. Spot Tim Hudson a 4-0 lead in the 7th and figure it's all over. Then 73-year old Dave Hansen hits a three-run homer (after the Mariners had one run in) to tie the game. DAMNIT THEY CAN'T LOSE FOUR STRAIGHT TO THE FIGHTING BAVASI'S!!!!!!!! *shakes fist in anger*

Their job is to win the game not help a guy break records. ESPN UDPATE ESPN UPDATE ESPN UPDATE Bonds hasn't homered but we'll keep you updated and show you every single pointless at bat!!!! Oh the Giants are getting their asses handed to them and have the stench of a 90 loss team. But we're ESPN, who cares who wins these games? Oh and booooooo Jake Peavy struck him out, how dare they call Barry out on strikes! (Exagerration of what John Kruk just said on Baseball Tonight)

For Al www.firebowa.com

Well I guess I better pick now. Was going to go offensive line here and already drafted a wideout but couldn't pass on this guy. With the 77th pick the San Francisco 49ers select, Keary Colbert, wide receiver from USC.

Bill Bavasi's prized signing Raul Ibanez hits a walk off homerun, his second of the night, his third in two days, to beat the A's 2-1. The A's have dropped the series and made Bill Bavasi look good for two games. *bangs head against wall*

Harden tonight pitched seven innings, gave up just one run, and struck out nine. But unfortunently because of second straight pathetic performance by the A's offense against another mediocre Seattle starter, Harden will have to settle for a no decision.

The A's offense is starting to get on my nerves. Ryan Franlkin has allowed five walks in three innings and the A's have not managed to score a single run off of any those walks. They let Freddy Garcia throw like shit last night and score nothing off of him. Up 1-0 on a solo homerun by Damian Miller.

Stat Line of the Night: Jake Westbrook of the Indians in relief: 7 innings pitched, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts. Starter Jeff D'Amico and three other Indians relievers: 2 innings pitched, 10 runs, 8 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts. Indians lose to the Tigers 10-4.

I'm confused, who are we supposed to be laughing at?

Harden won't be traded but it has been speculated more than once that his future might be in the bullpen. That being said I don't see that move happening this season because he's way too young to give up on as a starter. I was encouraged that he only walked one batter in his first start as that was his main problem last year. Also remember they were playing in Texas, one of the most friendly parks to hitters. We'll see how he does tommorrow in a pitcher's park in Seattle. If anyone is going to be traded anytime in the near future (and I'm talking after this season) it will be Barry Zito. His strikeouts are going down and his walks are going up which is not a good sign. The A's will be talking extension with Tim Hudson this offseason as he's a free agent after 2005 and the A's are still stacked in the minors with starting pitching. They could get plenty for a former Cy Young winner and he might actually be expendable in the long run.

Hey since snap judgments are all the rage on this board, here are the playoff match-ups if the season ended today! American League Minnesota at Oakland Baltimore at Chicago National League Cincinnati at Los Angeles Florida at Houston Got pennant fever yet?

*ESPN Update* OMG BONDS HIT TWO HOMERUNS! Yes so what if the Giants lost and the homeruns didn't mean anything in the end but BONDS IS THE BEST EVER DUDEZ!!!!!!!!!

Hey I suggested a OAO only topic for it but no one did anything about it. Oh and a *rim shot* for Deranged.

Wow he gave up a double to Manny Ramirez. He should be sentenced to death. Anyways I think it's time to put Joe Morgan out to pasture as an announcer. The man really is losing it and stuck in his "small ball" ways.

Joe Morgan's head must be spinning so far tonight with the slow footed A's scoring seven runs against the one run of the old school, hit and run, bunting, "manufacturing runs" Angels.

When will this idiocy stop? Surprisingly? ESPN logic: A's lost Tejada, Angels signed Vlad = A's bad, Angels good. It was probably written by John Kruk. Edit: Also the Angels rallied to win? They were down 1-0 in the 2nd inning! Wow what a rally.

72-71??? Were they even trying? Good lord that is just pathetic. NBA Basketball it's fan...okay it sucks.