This is the week....

RobDogBucky · June 4th, 2007, 12:20 PM

that my nephew finds out if a big league team will draft/sign him. He was given 5 letters of interest last fall when working out for the scouts at school. He has already gotten a serious call from Cleveland saying they would like to see him play professional baseball as an outfielder in an Indians' uniform. He knows he won't go on Day 1, the first two rounds are all mostly blue chippers and pitchers.

Last year's draft saw his league's best player picked by the A's and he is one of their up and coming prospects at Kane Co. this season, Jermaine Mitchell. My nephew has the advantage of having played the last two seasons with a wooden bat in the summer in the Northwoods League. He had 10 homers, an upswing from last season, and was 22/24 in stolen bags. He hit for a high average (.341) most of this season and at one point his slugging % was at .592. Yup, he hit 4 dingers in 5 games. He slumped a little at the end, but still had sparkling numbers over his two years at the Div. 1 school. He is a sparkplug and we hope he does either get selected on the second day, or gets signed anyway after the draft. His best buddy was playing for Virginia in the tourney the other day and broke his wrist. What a downer for the kid, also a senior looking toward the draft this week.

This week also sees the Red Sox make their only trip to Oaktown. I certainly hope we can greet them appropriately and do something like take 3/4 from them and send them on their way. Why do the A's play them twice in Beantown in the last week of the season? Makes about as much sense as putting tarps on the upper reserved. Mt. Davis I can see, but not the upper reserved.

We have won the last two series, and now is the time for that patented warm weather A's push to first place.

Let's go A's!

Later,
RDB

RobDogBucky · June 5th, 2007, 07:39 AM

Ah, yes, feels like my own personal blog.

Well, that was dramatic. First the great start by Haren, then the great efforts by most from the pen. Then the great play to nail Pedroia at the plate, and then the walk-off by Chavvy.

The bi-polar haters got the chance to spew big time before they brought the meds around. Must have been drooling with their heads bobbing like $5 junkies by the time Chavez ended it.

Tonight is Dinardo vs the latest Japanese phenom. How much did he cost again? I watched Dinardo vs the Rangers last Tuesday night, and except for that one bad sixth inning, he was very good. Of course, just like last night the A's in that game left like 45 runners on base. They had them jammed in the first against Texas and got nothing. That is beginning to be the norm for this team and they may just set some records for leaving runners on base.

Baseball is a funny game, when one pitcher can dominate and then due to one weird inning with a walk, a misplayed bunt by that pitcher, an intentional walk, and then a muffed double can be the difference. Instead of a gem shutout, Dinardo took the loss. If he pitches that well tonight, you can take that big salary for DiceK or whatever and chalk up another win for the A's.

They will clutch out another win vs the Rude Suxx. If we get this one tonight, then it is Wakefield on Wednesday night and Schilling on Thursday afternoon. How sweet it would be to quiet the Rude Suxx nation with a sweep or at least 3/4. I was watching one inning last night and they were showing the A's batter and the on deck and the hole all in one shot and I thought to myself, Stewart, Buck, Swisher, Johnson, heck that is some pretty good talent we send up there. When these guys get it going a lttle more, then maybe all these wasted gems by our starters will not go to waste, will become wins. Really, can anyone fault Beane for the moves he made vis a vis the starting pitching? I know the pen has faltered mightily at times, but injuries cannot be predicted and one just has to reach down and use what we got. Santiago Casilla has been lights out for two straight games. I like the sound of that. We have some hungry players in the wings and it is time to try them all out. I predict the latest coming of age will be Dinardo tonight.

Bold prediction, yes, with the latest high priced phenom going for the other guys tonight, but I just have a feeling that with that win last night something has changed in this team. Maybe we get Milton back tonight to make a contribution?

Go A's!

Later,
RDB

sleepingcobra · June 6th, 2007, 12:19 AM

come back over to scout.com!

RobDogBucky · June 6th, 2007, 07:50 AM

Nah, I think I'll stay here. It is so quiet here and there is no one shouting at me to fire someone, etc. Folks don't post here because they want to be seen/read/heard. Okay, there are a few that come here and talk once in a great while, but I like the idea of my own blog. What's wrong with that as long as this site stays up with only me as its regular poster?

Places like those other websites that have proliferated this year especially, do not host fans, they are like a bus stop for inmates out for a night on the town, jabbering away incoherently until the driver or the meds arrive, whichever comes first. I prefer to watch the games in peace and, well, I have concluded that most folks that frequent other boards have never played the game and really do not understand the mental aspect of playing day in, day out, over the course of the long season. They whine, they accuse, they condemn. No real ballers do that. If they did they wouln't last long on their team. I know that is an elitist attitude to some, but to have to explain positive thinking over knee-jerk hostility and name calling and backstabbing to folks is not why I am here. Isn't it quiet?

How 'bout that win last night, eh? Dinardo was a magician. This time his defense did not let him down and Eric Babe Chavez hit yet another game winning dinger. Tonight I will be there when they go against Wakefield. I wonder how the Chowdahead contingent feels now? Prolly like they have been mugged, or given the low scoring efforts they have shown, more like falling into some date rape stupor. Kinda disoriented and weak. Last night the pen came through finally, and confidence has somewhat been restored in Calero and Embree.

How 'bout that starting pitching? I can't say enough about Curt Young and his young staff. Anaheim better watch out, someone is creeping up on them. We don't see them again until the first week of August. I can't wait and I'll bet we have our guys all back, except maybe Loaiza, and frankly at this point, who cares about Loaiza? Package him with some of the others we have to jettison just before the deadline and stock up on some more young talent in exchange. Next year already looks awesome, eh?

I have to go check the A's success if any, against Wakefield. I seem to recall that when the batting order takes effort to wait on the knuckler, and not swing at too many of them, that forces Wakefield to come in with something else to find the plate. I have heard of the strategy of stepping up a foot or two closer to the mound helps in cutting off the knuckling action of the ball. Who knows, maybe Chavez can hit another game-winner and we will be on our way to, dare I say it, sweeping the team with the best record in baseball?

I have not seen ESPN this week, but they must be all atwitter.

Go A's!

Later,

ak4na2 · June 6th, 2007, 10:59 PM

sorry to intrude into your haven.. =)

hope you had fun at the game.. i refuse to attend another game when the red sox are in town.. on crosby's single he literally threw his body at the baseball.. when he made contact his right foot was off the ground.. a very good approach.. waiting for the ball to come to him and attacking it..

now if i can only incorporate that (transfer my weight..) into my golf swing..
i may add a few more yards to my swing.. as of now i am all arms.. ingrained into my mechanics from baseball.. a slap hitter going opposite field.. figured out back then that when i put in too much weight into my swing the ball would end up in the rightfielders glove.. if i just used my arms then i could consistently stroke the ball in front of the outfielder.. that is when i made contact.. haha..

RobDogBucky · June 7th, 2007, 07:22 AM

Yo, Ak;

I spent the night with about 20,000 out of 32,200 that were my good friends on dollar night, dishing out the third win in a row against the beantowners. Aside from their one inning rally, when the Youuuuuuukilis cheer rang out, the Rude ones were rather subdued to say the least. Up in our section, they were hunkered down most of the night with nothing to cheer about, so it wasn't too bad. The cheap $2 seats had a few red clad in them, but up on the plaza level around the bowl, there were way more A's fans. That was good to see/hear, as you alluded to, it was/is not fun when they are out in force. The icing on that cake was Papi almost getting tossed and Francona actually getting tossed for arguing balls/strikes. I think the reality of losing about 5 in a row has finally sunk in and the Bostons are experiencing the hangover of their lives right now. At least as far as this season goes. That lineup is uber dangerous and can explode at any time for several runs. The A's pitching, still the best in the league in my opinion, or at least the equal of Anaheim right now, is the answer obviously. Can this pitching keep up?

I think they (Geren and Romanek) left Kennedy in just a little too long, as he was at 80 pitches when that inning one scoring inning started, and was at 99 after the damage was done and 2 runs were in. But not to worry (see above) Santiago Casilla and the other two from the pen that came in before him, Lewis and Marshall, all got the job done. Kennedy pitched very well, and as per usual the supporting cast did not let him down. Do people realize how good this group is on defense? They set a record I think for number of double plays in a 2-game period. Especially Chavez. I will say that again so the naysayers that may stop by can be sure not to miss it, Especially Chavez.

From the plate, the A's got solid contributions from Crosby, Cust, Kendall, Swisher, et al. Three in a row against the team with the best record. I won't say that they are the best team because I do not believe that they are. They benefit from being in their division and not having to travel until now, but things will change and they are not the best. They may have the current lineup with the highest BA overall and they can be menacing, but as in the days of old, the A's seem to have their number.

Why does this team play to the level of their competition? Why do they get beat 3/4 by KC at home, then be on the verge of sweeping the Sox? I would say injuries and the weather. What else can explain this predictable June surge? They are like some creature of nature that responds only to the seasonal diurnal cycle and do not wake up until there is about 15 hours of sunlight in the day, namely in June.

Amazing. And today they can complete the job bringing Country Joe against Schilling. Let's hope they can keep this going for a while and put some pressure on the Anaheims when they return to earth from their current streak.

And to answer a few other questions that are out there, the A's stole so many bases because Wakefield was on the mound, and he insists on throwing the knuckler with runners on (I don't think he has the choice as it would become batting practice if he didn't). The A's have had a lot of 2-out rallies recently and this is not a new phenomenon to those of us that actually watch them play. Cust started hitting in the last couple of games, not just last night, and even though the much maligned Chavez did not hit the game winner in this game, his teammates picked up the slack. Ortiz obviously did not say any magic words to the ump, but Francona was obviously beefing from the dugout for a while before he and the ump got into it when Pedroia was at bat and had a called strike on him. I am sure he took the walk to fire up his team. Oh, yeah, Kendall had a nice hit last night as well, even though he also killed a rally earlier.

Go A's!

Later,
RDB

bedir than average · June 7th, 2007, 07:50 AM

Rob, I can't wait to here that your nephew got drafted.

Nat · June 8th, 2007, 11:27 AM

Well I was out there Monday night and it was a beautiful game, despite having to endure all the Bostonians screaming their heads off during Embree's blown save.
And thank God for Shannon Stewart.

DeJay · June 10th, 2007, 09:08 AM

Any update on your nephew Rob?

lastexit · June 10th, 2007, 06:57 PM

Was at today's game in SF, great to see the A's sweep the midgets in SF AGAIN. hahaha., scut-aro!!!!!

June 4th, 2007, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
RobDogBucky Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 118	This is the week.... that my nephew finds out if a big league team will draft/sign him. He was given 5 letters of interest last fall when working out for the scouts at school. He has already gotten a serious call from Cleveland saying they would like to see him play professional baseball as an outfielder in an Indians' uniform. He knows he won't go on Day 1, the first two rounds are all mostly blue chippers and pitchers. Last year's draft saw his league's best player picked by the A's and he is one of their up and coming prospects at Kane Co. this season, Jermaine Mitchell. My nephew has the advantage of having played the last two seasons with a wooden bat in the summer in the Northwoods League. He had 10 homers, an upswing from last season, and was 22/24 in stolen bags. He hit for a high average (.341) most of this season and at one point his slugging % was at .592. Yup, he hit 4 dingers in 5 games. He slumped a little at the end, but still had sparkling numbers over his two years at the Div. 1 school. He is a sparkplug and we hope he does either get selected on the second day, or gets signed anyway after the draft. His best buddy was playing for Virginia in the tourney the other day and broke his wrist. What a downer for the kid, also a senior looking toward the draft this week. This week also sees the Red Sox make their only trip to Oaktown. I certainly hope we can greet them appropriately and do something like take 3/4 from them and send them on their way. Why do the A's play them twice in Beantown in the last week of the season? Makes about as much sense as putting tarps on the upper reserved. Mt. Davis I can see, but not the upper reserved. We have won the last two series, and now is the time for that patented warm weather A's push to first place. Let's go A's! Later, RDB

June 5th, 2007, 07:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
RobDogBucky Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 118	Ah, yes, feels like my own personal blog. Well, that was dramatic. First the great start by Haren, then the great efforts by most from the pen. Then the great play to nail Pedroia at the plate, and then the walk-off by Chavvy. The bi-polar haters got the chance to spew big time before they brought the meds around. Must have been drooling with their heads bobbing like $5 junkies by the time Chavez ended it. Tonight is Dinardo vs the latest Japanese phenom. How much did he cost again? I watched Dinardo vs the Rangers last Tuesday night, and except for that one bad sixth inning, he was very good. Of course, just like last night the A's in that game left like 45 runners on base. They had them jammed in the first against Texas and got nothing. That is beginning to be the norm for this team and they may just set some records for leaving runners on base. Baseball is a funny game, when one pitcher can dominate and then due to one weird inning with a walk, a misplayed bunt by that pitcher, an intentional walk, and then a muffed double can be the difference. Instead of a gem shutout, Dinardo took the loss. If he pitches that well tonight, you can take that big salary for DiceK or whatever and chalk up another win for the A's. They will clutch out another win vs the Rude Suxx. If we get this one tonight, then it is Wakefield on Wednesday night and Schilling on Thursday afternoon. How sweet it would be to quiet the Rude Suxx nation with a sweep or at least 3/4. I was watching one inning last night and they were showing the A's batter and the on deck and the hole all in one shot and I thought to myself, Stewart, Buck, Swisher, Johnson, heck that is some pretty good talent we send up there. When these guys get it going a lttle more, then maybe all these wasted gems by our starters will not go to waste, will become wins. Really, can anyone fault Beane for the moves he made vis a vis the starting pitching? I know the pen has faltered mightily at times, but injuries cannot be predicted and one just has to reach down and use what we got. Santiago Casilla has been lights out for two straight games. I like the sound of that. We have some hungry players in the wings and it is time to try them all out. I predict the latest coming of age will be Dinardo tonight. Bold prediction, yes, with the latest high priced phenom going for the other guys tonight, but I just have a feeling that with that win last night something has changed in this team. Maybe we get Milton back tonight to make a contribution? Go A's! Later, RDB Last edited by RobDogBucky; June 5th, 2007 at 07:42 AM. Reason: spelling errors

June 7th, 2007, 07:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
RobDogBucky Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 118	Yo, Ak; I spent the night with about 20,000 out of 32,200 that were my good friends on dollar night, dishing out the third win in a row against the beantowners. Aside from their one inning rally, when the Youuuuuuukilis cheer rang out, the Rude ones were rather subdued to say the least. Up in our section, they were hunkered down most of the night with nothing to cheer about, so it wasn't too bad. The cheap $2 seats had a few red clad in them, but up on the plaza level around the bowl, there were way more A's fans. That was good to see/hear, as you alluded to, it was/is not fun when they are out in force. The icing on that cake was Papi almost getting tossed and Francona actually getting tossed for arguing balls/strikes. I think the reality of losing about 5 in a row has finally sunk in and the Bostons are experiencing the hangover of their lives right now. At least as far as this season goes. That lineup is uber dangerous and can explode at any time for several runs. The A's pitching, still the best in the league in my opinion, or at least the equal of Anaheim right now, is the answer obviously. Can this pitching keep up? I think they (Geren and Romanek) left Kennedy in just a little too long, as he was at 80 pitches when that inning one scoring inning started, and was at 99 after the damage was done and 2 runs were in. But not to worry (see above) Santiago Casilla and the other two from the pen that came in before him, Lewis and Marshall, all got the job done. Kennedy pitched very well, and as per usual the supporting cast did not let him down. Do people realize how good this group is on defense? They set a record I think for number of double plays in a 2-game period. Especially Chavez. I will say that again so the naysayers that may stop by can be sure not to miss it, Especially Chavez. From the plate, the A's got solid contributions from Crosby, Cust, Kendall, Swisher, et al. Three in a row against the team with the best record. I won't say that they are the best team because I do not believe that they are. They benefit from being in their division and not having to travel until now, but things will change and they are not the best. They may have the current lineup with the highest BA overall and they can be menacing, but as in the days of old, the A's seem to have their number. Why does this team play to the level of their competition? Why do they get beat 3/4 by KC at home, then be on the verge of sweeping the Sox? I would say injuries and the weather. What else can explain this predictable June surge? They are like some creature of nature that responds only to the seasonal diurnal cycle and do not wake up until there is about 15 hours of sunlight in the day, namely in June. Amazing. And today they can complete the job bringing Country Joe against Schilling. Let's hope they can keep this going for a while and put some pressure on the Anaheims when they return to earth from their current streak. And to answer a few other questions that are out there, the A's stole so many bases because Wakefield was on the mound, and he insists on throwing the knuckler with runners on (I don't think he has the choice as it would become batting practice if he didn't). The A's have had a lot of 2-out rallies recently and this is not a new phenomenon to those of us that actually watch them play. Cust started hitting in the last couple of games, not just last night, and even though the much maligned Chavez did not hit the game winner in this game, his teammates picked up the slack. Ortiz obviously did not say any magic words to the ump, but Francona was obviously beefing from the dugout for a while before he and the ump got into it when Pedroia was at bat and had a called strike on him. I am sure he took the walk to fire up his team. Oh, yeah, Kendall had a nice hit last night as well, even though he also killed a rally earlier. Go A's! Later, RDB Last edited by RobDogBucky; June 7th, 2007 at 07:38 AM. Reason: spelling

June 7th, 2007, 07:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
bedir than average Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,258	Rob, I can't wait to here that your nephew got drafted. __________________ I'm sorry I left for a while. I needed a vaction, and then work changed substantially. I'm over 50 hour weeks, plus two hours a day of commuting time. A few weeks ago I launched my own blog about Seattle Sounders FC and Life in Puget Sound. I won't be by these parts often as my focus has changed. Sorry about the unannounced retirement.

June 6th, 2007, 12:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
sleepingcobra Rookie Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3	come back over to scout.com!

June 6th, 2007, 07:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
RobDogBucky Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 118	Nah, I think I'll stay here. It is so quiet here and there is no one shouting at me to fire someone, etc. Folks don't post here because they want to be seen/read/heard. Okay, there are a few that come here and talk once in a great while, but I like the idea of my own blog. What's wrong with that as long as this site stays up with only me as its regular poster? Places like those other websites that have proliferated this year especially, do not host fans, they are like a bus stop for inmates out for a night on the town, jabbering away incoherently until the driver or the meds arrive, whichever comes first. I prefer to watch the games in peace and, well, I have concluded that most folks that frequent other boards have never played the game and really do not understand the mental aspect of playing day in, day out, over the course of the long season. They whine, they accuse, they condemn. No real ballers do that. If they did they wouln't last long on their team. I know that is an elitist attitude to some, but to have to explain positive thinking over knee-jerk hostility and name calling and backstabbing to folks is not why I am here. Isn't it quiet? How 'bout that win last night, eh? Dinardo was a magician. This time his defense did not let him down and Eric Babe Chavez hit yet another game winning dinger. Tonight I will be there when they go against Wakefield. I wonder how the Chowdahead contingent feels now? Prolly like they have been mugged, or given the low scoring efforts they have shown, more like falling into some date rape stupor. Kinda disoriented and weak. Last night the pen came through finally, and confidence has somewhat been restored in Calero and Embree. How 'bout that starting pitching? I can't say enough about Curt Young and his young staff. Anaheim better watch out, someone is creeping up on them. We don't see them again until the first week of August. I can't wait and I'll bet we have our guys all back, except maybe Loaiza, and frankly at this point, who cares about Loaiza? Package him with some of the others we have to jettison just before the deadline and stock up on some more young talent in exchange. Next year already looks awesome, eh? I have to go check the A's success if any, against Wakefield. I seem to recall that when the batting order takes effort to wait on the knuckler, and not swing at too many of them, that forces Wakefield to come in with something else to find the plate. I have heard of the strategy of stepping up a foot or two closer to the mound helps in cutting off the knuckling action of the ball. Who knows, maybe Chavez can hit another game-winner and we will be on our way to, dare I say it, sweeping the team with the best record in baseball? I have not seen ESPN this week, but they must be all atwitter. Go A's! Later,

June 6th, 2007, 10:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
ak4na2 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 103	sorry to intrude into your haven.. =) hope you had fun at the game.. i refuse to attend another game when the red sox are in town.. on crosby's single he literally threw his body at the baseball.. when he made contact his right foot was off the ground.. a very good approach.. waiting for the ball to come to him and attacking it.. now if i can only incorporate that (transfer my weight..) into my golf swing.. i may add a few more yards to my swing.. as of now i am all arms.. ingrained into my mechanics from baseball.. a slap hitter going opposite field.. figured out back then that when i put in too much weight into my swing the ball would end up in the rightfielders glove.. if i just used my arms then i could consistently stroke the ball in front of the outfielder.. that is when i made contact.. haha..

June 8th, 2007, 11:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,317	Well I was out there Monday night and it was a beautiful game, despite having to endure all the Bostonians screaming their heads off during Embree's blown save. And thank God for Shannon Stewart.

June 10th, 2007, 09:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
DeJay Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	Any update on your nephew Rob?

June 10th, 2007, 06:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
lastexit Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SF Posts: 88	Was at today's game in SF, great to see the A's sweep the midgets in SF AGAIN. hahaha., scut-aro!!!!!