11/05/24
July 26, 2005
Oakland, the best in the west?: After a mere 14 games since the All Star break, the A's have the best record in the majors. Barry Zito translates that into "the A's will win the AL west". I don't think so...
posted by tommysands to baseball at 06:35 AM - 31 comments
Bobby Kielty's hair alone is better than anything the California Angels of the Republic of Anaheim in Los Angeles have to offer.
posted by yerfatma at 07:50 AM on July 26, 2005
What's the matter, "grum", you got a cold?
posted by tommysands at 08:00 AM on July 26, 2005
My apologies, tommysands. I mistakenly assumed that most people had seen this type of reference before. It's my silly little way of saying "I think this may have been mentioned before." I've used it a few times. 1 2 3
posted by grum@work at 09:48 AM on July 26, 2005
Oh, I thought you were just reminding Tommy that this is yet another Angels thread where he's trying to show that they're the best. team. ever.
posted by YukonGold at 10:14 AM on July 26, 2005
June 17: 27-39 Since: 27-6 That is nothing short of amazing.
posted by trharlan at 11:51 AM on July 26, 2005
Ah, "goldie", if you click the url and read the article, you'll discover that the Angels are not even mentioned. I was simply trying to say that the A's are not the best. team. ever.
posted by tommysands at 11:52 AM on July 26, 2005
Spare me. I think you're previous posts, along with the final line of this post show what your motivations are. There's nothing to indicate that the A's won't win the west with the ball they've been playing (as noted by trharlan). And I did click on the link and read it. It's an AP recap of last night's action with Zito's quote. -Goldie 
posted by YukonGold at 12:02 PM on July 26, 2005
"Goldie", you're spared. You're also free to guess anyone's motivations at anytime but I disagree with you. There are two things that indicate the A's won't win the AL West: the Rangers and the Angels. (The Rangers won't play poorly forever). And, what's wrong with an AP URL? Finally, I wouldn't have guessed that you were soooo good looking!
posted by tommysands at 12:40 PM on July 26, 2005
I sure hope the A's win the west, because the AL wild card race looks like it will be tighter than ever. Just the fact that we're talking about that possibility is amazing after the disastrous start. There are two things that indicate the A's won't win the AL West: the Rangers and the Angels. The A's have won 5 out of 9 games against the Angels and 8 out of 13 games with Texas, and that includes many games in the middle of their terrible start. If anything, those two teams indicate that the A's have a great chance.
posted by dusted at 01:04 PM on July 26, 2005
My point on the AP article is that there's nothing there except the quote. You might as well print the quote and link to http://www.sportsfilter.com. Had the link provided any insight in to why the A's do or do not stand a chance of making an amazing comback, I'd probably enjoy it greatly and might spark a real conversation about the makeup of the AL West.
posted by YukonGold at 01:46 PM on July 26, 2005
...the Angels are not even mentioned. I was simply trying to say that the A's are not the best. team. ever.... And yet they play in the same division. And have a rivalry. Come on tommy, we're not stupid. If your going to masturbate all over the Front Page why not just have it all out in one post and get it over with. But at least give us something to cogitate over, some analysis or something. Look, dusted provided a reason why he believes it is possible the A's could take the AL West. He even provided evidence!!1one!! I'll take dusted's evidence a step further. Since MLB realigned the divisions in 94 the Angels have won the AL West once. That was last year. The Angels have led the division many times over the last ten years but have been overtaken by Seattle or Oakland a few times in that span(95,97,98,02). Surely a devout Angel fan as yourself would know that, right? :p
posted by lilnemo at 01:51 PM on July 26, 2005
As opposed to your choice in makeup above?
posted by yerfatma at 01:52 PM on July 26, 2005
Let's just leave it at this: the A's comeback has been amazing, and predictions are generally futile (that is why, um, they play the game). Sure, the Angels have been favored all along, and they're still playing good ball. It's going to be an interesting ride...here's why I'm enjoying this so much: -- A's have whomped on Texas and Anaheim in the last two weeks. They've proven that (for now) they can compete with anyone. -- The Wild Card is just that: wild. Right now it's Oak, Min, Bos, NYY and possibly Bal competing for a spot, and anyone can get hot in the last two weeks and take it away. Nice to know the AL East doesn't own the WC like so many of us thought would happen. -- Sports is better with good stories. This is one. And it doesn't involve New York or Boston. Which means there's hope for the world yet.
posted by diastematic at 02:13 PM on July 26, 2005
Just because a guy likes to huff paint and aerosol propellant together, doesn't mean he can't bring it.
posted by YukonGold at 02:23 PM on July 26, 2005
Actually, I think it's a great indicator that he most definitely can bring it. And has. On many unfortunate bystanders.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:30 PM on July 26, 2005
Just because a guy likes to huff paint and aerosol propellant together, doesn't mean he can't bring it. Oh, he can bring it all right. But when he does, he'll be bringing it real slow; not that you'll be able to notice from all the glare.
posted by lilnemo at 02:32 PM on July 26, 2005
Call me a traditionalist, but I prefer a hot dog, a 3rd base seat and a bag of glue. Cellophane, even.
posted by yerfatma at 02:43 PM on July 26, 2005
There are two things that indicate the A's won't win the AL West: the Rangers and the Angels. (The Rangers won't play poorly forever). I'm pretty much ready to throw the Rangers out of contention. They may not play sub .200 ball forever, but I really don't see them coming back. After Rogers' start tonight, he'll probably go on his suspension, so you're then looking at a starting rotation of: Chris Young, Chan Ho Park, Joaquin Benoit, Ricardo Rodriguez, and maybe John Wasdin or Doug Brocail. Mark Teixeira and Michael Young both made public statements in the media over the past few weeks that management needed to do something to inject both the starting rotation and the bullpen and they've done fuck-all. I *really* don't want to see those two get dissatisfied with the organization. I heard some rumors today of a possible Richard Hidalgo for Sydney Ponson trade, but I seriously doubt a 7-9 record and ERA of nearly 6 is going to do much. It's a two dog race, and it looks like it could be a very, very good one, but the A's are playing basically the best ball in the MLB right now, so you have to give the advantage at the moment. It's only July, though. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:44 PM on July 26, 2005
Sidney Ponson + John Wasdin + 100° heat = Negative Fun
posted by yerfatma at 03:22 PM on July 26, 2005
Wild Card is just that: wild. Right now it's Oak, Min, Bos, NYY and possibly Bal competing for a spot, and anyone can get hot in the last two weeks and take it away. *raises hand in Toronto*
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:28 PM on July 26, 2005
Like maple syrup, Canada's evil oozes over the United States.
posted by dusted at 05:20 PM on July 26, 2005
Well, what do you expect Zito to say? "Well, we're now tied for the Wild Card dispite being well over six games back at one point... but that six games the Angels have? We won't be able to touch that with a 10 foot pole." All of the recent Oakland victories have come against quality opponents. These guys are contenders.
posted by whymy at 05:29 PM on July 26, 2005
Personally, I was expecting him to say, "Well, we just gotta get the puck to the net."
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:50 AM on July 27, 2005
*raises hand in Toronto* Oh, I thought about the same thing, but going 5-5 vs the worst in the AL (Seattle, KC, TB)... That sort of thing puts it in perspective for me. Maybe not this year, but soon. Unless, of course, they sweep the "mighty" Angels..then I'll believe again. It's been a year long tease by the Blue Jays for their fans. But it's still better than last year...
posted by grum@work at 10:34 AM on July 27, 2005
Actually, grum, I was thinking about it yesterday. What's the single-season record for the number of times a team has broken the .500 mark? I think we've done it about twelve times so far this season. We're on pace to finish 81-81, which, if you like round numbers, is pretty impressive. It's all a matter of choosing your victories. Although if we keep hitting like we did against the Angels last night...
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:43 AM on July 27, 2005
June 17: 27-39 Since: 27-6 That is nothing short of amazing. Another team on a pretty good run...Houston. June 17: 27-38 Since: 26-9 Not bad for a team rarely mentioned by the national media dweebs.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 06:08 PM on July 27, 2005
Not bad for a team rarely mentioned by the national media dweebs. That seems to be the case unless your team is NYY or NYM or from the east.
posted by tommysands at 01:14 AM on July 28, 2005
That seems to be the case unless your team is NYY or NYM or from the east. tommysands, I believe many (most?) in the central states would include California teams in that group as well.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:17 PM on July 28, 2005
That seems to be the case unless your team is NYY or NYM or from the east. Gee Tommy, did New York move from the East without sending me a change of address form?
posted by billsaysthis at 03:55 PM on July 28, 2005
An amazing run, especially since everyone (including myself) wrote them off after dealing Mulder and Hudson. But they currently hold the AL Wild Card lead and as of this post, the sixth best record in the majors at 54-45.